Free School Meals

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

• 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 guaranteed 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 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

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:

• younger than the compulsory age for starting school
• in full-time education

In addition to your child receiving a free school meal, as a school we receive additional funding too.

Infant free school meals in England

Regardless of your financial situation your child will be able to get free school meals if they’re in a government-funded school and in:

• reception class
• year 1
• year 2

However it is important to also apply to your local authority for the benefit based Free School Meal if you also get any of the qualifying benefits as the school can get extra funding if you do.

Please click here for a direct link to the online application for Free School Meals.