We are informing all parents of changes to the Free School Meals guidance that will take effect from September 2026.
Free School Meals expansion:
From September 2026, there will be 2 categories of benefits-based free school meals –
- Eligible targeted: this covers children in households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less. The children eligible under the ‘Targeted’ category will benefit from Holiday Activities and Food provision (HAF)
Children may also be eligible for Targeted Free School Meal’s if their household is in receipt of one of the benefits below:
- 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 guarantee 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 four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- No Recourse to Public Funds
- Eligible expanded: this covers children in households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings exceeding £7,400.
The children eligible under the “Expanded” category will not benefit from Holiday Activities and Food provision (HAF).
Transitional protection has ended:
- If your child has previously been in receipt of benefits-based Free School Meals, you will need to re-apply before September 2026. Your child will not automatically continue to receive Free School Meals from September 2026; we must process a new eligibility check.
Universal Free School Meals:
- Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 will automatically receive a universal free school meal regardless of family income.
- However, families with children in these year groups should still apply for benefits-based free school meals if they meet the criteria listed above. If eligible for targeted free school meals, additional funding is available to the school.
Your child's school will be in touch with instructions on what to do. Please ensure that you do not miss out on funding that you may be entitled to.
If you experience any issues, please contact your child's school admin team.
*Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999* - If you are a family with NRPF and would like to apply for Free School Meals please use attached NRPF paper application
