Free school meals eligibility
Free School Meal eligibility changes from 1st September 2026
From 1st September 2026, free school meal eligibility criteria changes, meaning all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit attending state funded schools will be entitled to receive a free meal.
All maintained schools, academies and free schools have a legal responsibility to provide free school meals (FSM) to pupils of all ages that meet the eligibility criteria. This includes pupils in school-based nurseries and maintained nursery schools.
From 1st September 2026 there will be four types of free school meals in Newham and across London, two benefit based and two that are universal for all children in the relevant school year groups:
Benefit based free school meals categories:
- Targeted FSM: based on the existing free school meal threshold.
- Pupils who are in households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less.
- support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
- Expanded FSM, a new category covering pupils who do not qualify for targeted FSM, but who are in households receiving Universal Credit.
Some children may also be entitled to a free school meal if their household:
- are in receipt of income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- receive the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
Important note 1:
For benefit based free school meals a pupil is only eligible to receive a free school meal where:
- a claim for this support has been made by their parent or guardian and,
- their application outcome is verified as eligible.
Universal Free School Meal categories
- Universal Infant Free School meals: these will continue for all pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 who don’t qualify under either of the benefit-based criteria. Parents do not need to apply for these.
- Mayor for London’s extended Universal Free Schools Meals for all children attending state funded junior or primary school in London: these will continue for all pupils in Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 who don’t qualify under either of the benefit-based criteria. Parents do not need to apply for these.
Important note 2:
Only Targeted FSM eligible pupils will attract Pupil Premium funding for their child’s school and the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) local offer.
Children receiving free school meals under any of the other three categories will not attract Pupil Premium funding for their child’s school and will not be eligible to receive the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) local offer.
