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Free School Meals

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Eligibility for Free School Meals (FSM)

From September 2026, all children whose household receives Universal Credit will be eligible for free school meals, regardless of household income. 

Your child may be eligible to receive free school meals if your family receives:

  • Universal Credit
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • The Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • Certain support available to families with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)
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Students walking and talking in the playground

Types of FSM

From September 2026, there will be two types of FSM:

Targeted FSM

  • For children in households receiving Universal Credit, with annual earnings of £7,400 or less. 
  • These pupils will receive free school meals and schools will also receive additional funding (Pupil Premium) to support these pupils. 

Expanded FSM

  • For children in households receiving Universal Credit, whose earnings are above £7,400.
  • These pupils will receive free school meals, but not Pupil Premium funding. 
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How to apply for FSM

Families must make an application, and have their eligibility checked, before free school meals can be provided.

If you think you may be eligible, please visit the website here. Tick the “I confirm…” box and press “Save & Continue”. Then fill in the details requested.  

Since 2018, some children have kept their entitlement to free school meals even if their family’s circumstances changed. From September 2026, families will need to continue meeting the qualifying criteria to receive free school meals. Schools will review eligibility each year. 

For further information on Pupil Premium, and how Queensmead School supports its Pupil Premium students, please click here. 

Please see our Frequently Asked Questions document here. 

If you have any questions, or need any assistance applying, please email Queensmead School’s office: office@qmschool.org.uk 

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Changes to your benefit entitlement

Please contact the school immediately if your benefit changes or ends, as it may mean that you no longer qualify to claim free school meals. If it is found that you did not notify us that you were no longer entitled to claim free school meals, you will be invoiced for the cost of all school meals taken free to which your child(ren) were not entitled.

Other help

JobCentre Plus: Website, 0345 608 8545 Mon-Fri: 8am-6pm

For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits