Could your child be entitled to Free School Meals?

Free School Meals (FSM) provide eligible children with a nutritious school meal every school day, free of charge.

From September 2026, the eligibility rules in England have been expanded. If your household receives Universal Credit, your child is now entitled to Free School Meals regardless of your household earnings.

Other families may also qualify depending on the benefits or support they receive.

Reception, Year 1 and Year 2

All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 at state-funded schools are already entitled to a free school meal through Universal Infant Free School Meals.

However, it is still important to make sure the school or local authority knows if your family receives qualifying benefits. An eligibility check may identify additional support or funding connected with your child.

What about children in Years 3 to 6?

If your household receives Universal Credit, your child is entitled to Free School Meals from the 2026/27 academic year, regardless of how much your household earns.

Children may also qualify if their parent or carer receives certain other types of support, including the guaranteed element of Pension Credit or support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Some families with no recourse to public funds may also be eligible.

Why should I apply?

If your child is eligible, they can receive a free school meal every school day.

It is worth checking your eligibility even if:

• your child is already receiving a free meal because they are in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2;

• your child usually prefers to bring a packed lunch;

• you have checked previously and were not eligible; or

• you think your household income may previously have been too high.

The rules changed from September 2026, so families who were not previously eligible may now qualify.

How do I apply?

Applying is straightforward and eligibility is normally checked electronically.

You can check whether your child is eligible and find your local authority's application process using the Free School Meals service:

Free School Meals - Check and Apply

You may need information such as your National Insurance number when completing an application.

Not sure whether you qualify?

Please apply or complete an eligibility check anyway.

There is no disadvantage to checking, and changes introduced for the 2026/27 academic year mean that many more families are now entitled to Free School Meals.

If you need any help with the application process, please contact the school office.