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    • Free School Meals

    Free School Meals Entitlement

    From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, we 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 

    Households may also be entitled to a meal if they:

    • are in receipt of income-related Employment and Support Allowance
    • receive the guarantee element of Pension Credit
    • meet criteria set out in separate guidance for families with no recourse to public funds

    What is changing in September 2026

    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.

    We have made this a legal requirement through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 and intend to lay additional regulations extending this duty to maintained nursery schools.

    Going forward, there will be 2 categories of benefits-based free school meals:

    • Targeted FSM, which continues to be based on the existing threshold, covering pupils 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
    • Ever 6 FSM Cohort, are pupils who are, or have been, eligible for FSM over the last 6 years are part of the ‘Ever 6’ FSM cohort. This is used for disadvantage funding and accountability purposes. Following the expansion of FSM, Ever 6 FSM will be based on targeted FSM.

    If you feel you are entitled to Free School Meals, come to the main school office for help and advice or alternatively please click on the link below to apply for Free Schools Meals

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