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***Changes to Free School Meal Eligibility from September 2026

Free School Meal Eligibility Changes for the new Academic Year 2026/27 for students currently in years 7-10 

Free School Meals eligibility is changing from the start of the new academic year, and you will need to apply if you meet the new criteria. From September 2026, the Government is expanding access to Free School Meals so that all children and young people from households receiving Universal Credit can apply. There will be 2 categories of eligibility:

Eligible Targeted: this covers children in households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less, as well as those receiving certain other qualifying benefits or with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF). These children may also attract additional support for their school, such as pupil premium funding, and access to schemes such as the Holiday Activities and Food programme.

Eligible Expanded: this covers children in households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings exceeding £7,400 per year. These children will be entitled to Free School Meals only.

Due to these changes, all families will be required to apply from 1 June 2026. We strongly recommend applying online as early as possible via the link here. Before starting your application, please ensure you have your National Insurance number and details of your benefits to hand.

Before applying, please ensure you have:

- Your National Insurance number
- Details of your benefits (such as a Universal Credit statement if requested)

Please note that applications during this period may take longer to process due to a high volume of requests. If your child is currently receiving Free School Meals, their eligibility will continue until the end of the current school year regardless of the outcome of your new application. Once your application has been processed, you will receive confirmation of the outcome. If you are eligible, we will confirm the category your child qualifies under and the level of support they will receive. If your child is eligible under the Targeted category, they may also be entitled to additional support for the duration of the academic year. If your child is eligible under the Expanded category, they will receive Free School Meals. If your circumstances change and you believe you may qualify for the Targeted category, you should reapply so your eligibility can be reassessed.

 

 

The Pupil Premium Grant is funding allocated to children from low-income families who are currently known to be eligible for Free School Meals in both mainstream and non-mainstream settings and children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months. The purpose of the Pupil Premium is to help support those students from low income families to ensure that they make progress at an equal rate to their peers.

Is my child entitled to Free School Meals?

Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
  • Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

  • Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals. Your child may also get free school meals if you get any of these benefits and your child is both:

  • younger than the compulsory age for starting school AND
  • in full-time education

Who can I speak to if I want to know more?

In the first instance speak to the Assistant Head of Year for your child. They will be able to advise you about how to seek support within the school. Also, if you feel that there are additional ways that your child could be supported by accessing the premium then please contact them or Mrs Braniff, Deputy Headteacher.

Apply for Free School Meals (click here)