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Free School Meals

Please click the link below to check your eligibility to claim free school meals:

https://fsm.lgfl.net/app/school/14316

A guide to the checking process can be found by clicking here. 

If you are unable to use the link, we are able to do a manual check. Please use SHS Connect to contact the school for information. 

 

Expanded entitlement for families on Universal Credit

From the start of academic year 2026 to 2027, all children in households receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to free school meals, regardless of earnings.

Going forward, there will be two types of eligibility:

· Targeted FSM: for households in receipt of universal credit earning £7,400 or less (includes free meals and additional support such as pupil premium). Other educational entitlements such as the Holiday Activities and Food program (HAF) and the ‘extended rights’ element of school travel assistance, will also continue to be based on targeted FSM.

· Expanded FSM: for households in receipt of universal credit earning above £7,400 (free meals only)

Families with no recourse to public funds may also be eligible for Targeted FSM subject to meeting separate criteria.

End of transitional protections

Since 2018, some children have continued to receive free school meals, even if their family circumstances changed during the rollout of Universal Credit. This is referred to as transitional protections. Now that entitlement is being expanded to all families on Universal Credit, these protections will end at the end of the 2025 to 2026 academic year.

This means:

All current Free School Meal students need to be rechecked for eligibility.

If you believe your child may now be eligible you need to apply using the link above. 

These checks need to be carried out before the start of each academic year. 

· Some children may no longer be eligible from the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year if their family does not receive Universal Credit or another qualifying benefit

· Eligibility will now be based on current benefit status

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

  • Universal Credit - From the start of academic year 2026 to 2027, your child will qualify for free school meals if you get Universal Credit, regardless of household income.
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • the guaranteed element of Pension Credit

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:

If you do not qualify for most benefits (also known as having ‘no recourse to public funds’), your child may still be eligible for free school meals. Ask their school or local authority whether they’re eligible.