APPLYING FOR FREE SCHOOL MEALS

We want to make sure that we are providing your child with the best education and support we can.  Healthy school food can help pupils establish healthy habits for life and help to improve pupils’ readiness to learn.  You may be entitled to receive free school meals if you are in receipt of certain benefits or support.  You could also raise additional pupil premium funding for the school to fund support like extra tuition, additional teaching staff or after school activities.  All parents and carers are going to need to apply for free school meals again at the end of this academic year.

Since 1 April 2018, all existing free school meals claimants have continued to receive free school meals while Universal Credit is rolled out.  This has applied regardless of any change in household circumstances, including if earnings rise above the threshold during that time.  However, protections only remain in place until the end of the 2025 to 2026 academic year.

All transitional protections for free school meals (FSM) will end at the close of this academic year, alongside the new entitlement applying to all households in receipt of Universal Credit.  Pupils must meet the new eligibility criteria for free school meals, to continue receiving this provision.

From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, the Government are expanding FSM eligibility to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit regardless of household earnings.  Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:

• Universal Credit

• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

A pupil is only eligible to receive a free school meal where both:

·         a claim for this support has been made

·         their eligibility has been verified by the school where they are enrolled or by the local authority

You only need to complete the check once.  Subsequent rechecks of your eligibility will be carried out annually to assess whether you continue to be eligible for free school meals. Should you move your child to a new school, your child’s new school may proactively assess whether you continue to be eligible for free school meals. You should contact the school or local authority if you have a change in financial circumstances. 

We are committed to ensuring that the personal and sensitive information that we hold about you is protected and kept safe and secure, and we have measures in place to prevent the loss, misuse or alteration of your personal information. We will use the information you provide to assess entitlement to free school meals. The information may also be shared with other Council departments to offer benefits and services.

What to do

To check to see if your children can get free school meals (FSM) or are still eligible, please visit Home | LGfL FSM and complete all sections.   We will be notified if you are eligible for free school meals.  If you are unable to complete the check online, please contact the school office. 

If there is any information you cannot find, or you are having problems understanding, please contact the school for help.

Important

If you have multiple children attending different schools, you will need to complete a check for each school.

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