The Education Act 1996 as amended, places a duty on maintained schools, academies and free schools to provide free school meals (FSM) to pupils of all ages that meet the criteria. This includes pupils in school-based nurseries and maintained nursery schools.
From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit attending these schools will be entitled to receive a free meal.
There are 2 categories of benefits-based free school meals:
- Targeted FSM, which continues to be based on the existing threshold, covering pupils who are in households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less
- Expanded FSM, a new category covering pupils who do not qualify for targeted FSM, but who are in households receiving Universal Credit
I agree that you will use the information provided to process my claim for free school meals and will contact other sources as allowed by law to verify my initial, and ongoing, entitlement.
I agree that the information may be used to ensure accuracy of records across the local authority or equivalent and the check against fraud.
I agree that you can inform the school(s) attended by my child of their initial and ongoing entitlement to free school meals.
You may be aware of our Privacy Policy.
To complete an application you will need to provide:
- Your own name and date of birth
- Contact details
- National Insurance Number or National Asylum Seekers Number
- Child's name and date of birth
- School your child is attending/will attend
