Letter to Parents and Carers: Changes to Free School Meal entitlements
Wed 10 Jun 2026
Dear Parents and Carers,
Please be aware that from September 2026, the Government will introduce substantial changes to Free School Meal (FSM) eligibility. Under the new national criteria, all families in receipt of Universal Credit will qualify for free school meals, meaning that more students will become eligible.
Therefore, from September 2026, there will be two categories of benefit-related FSM.
1. Targeted Free School Meals:
This category continues to be based on the existing income threshold. Students will be eligible if their household;
- Is in receipt of Universal Credit, and
- Has an annual household income of £7,400 or less.
Only students eligible for Targeted FSM will;
- Qualify for Pupil Premium funding.
- Be eligible for extended rights home to school transport, subject to the eligibility criteria for extended rights travel.
2. Expanded Free School Meals:
This category applies to school meals only and covers pupils who:
- Live in households receiving Universal Credit, and
- Do not meet the income threshold for Targeted FSM (i.e. the annual household income is above £7,400).
Pupils eligible for Expanded FSM will be eligible to free school meals only.
Please do not miss out on support that you may be entitled to for your child please seek further guidance at https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals.
Yours faithfully,
Alison McQueen
Principal