Nursery-aged children - if your child is aged 3 or 4, attends a local authority maintained nursery all day and you receive a qualifying benefit, they could be eligible for a free school meal.
All children in reception - year 1 and year 2 get free school meals regardless of your income and schools will be aware of this.
Children in junior and senior school – years 3 to 15 - your child could be eligible for free school meals if you or your partner receive a qualifying benefit listed below:
Your child(ren) may be eligible to receive free school meals if you are in receipt of one of the following:
- Universal Credit
- The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Support under part V1 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- If you are a foster parent you cannot apply for free school meals as you already receive funding. Parent or guardians must be in receipt of Child Benefit
If your child is aged 16 to 19 and eligible for free school meals but attends college or another educational establishment, you must request free school meals directly from the education setting they attendant.
If you already receive free school meals for a child and just want to add another child, contact your school who will be able to check if the additional child is eligible.
Applying for free school meals
You should contact your child’s school who will check if you qualify for free school meals. If you need information about school vouchers please contact your school.
How long will my child get free school meals?
All pupils eligible for free school meals under the benefits-based criteria should continue to receive this entitlement, regardless of any change in household circumstances or phase of education until the end of the 2025/26 school year.
From the start of the 2026/2027 school year, the Department for Education will introduce new eligibility criteria meaning that all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit will be entitled to receive a free school meal. The DfE intend to end transitional protections with this change and will issue further guidance ahead of September 2026.