Changes to Free School Meal entitlements June 2026

Monday 8th June2026  

RE: Changes to Free School Meal entitlements  

Dear Parent/Carer, 

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.  

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, 

Mrs Michelle Colledge-Smith

Principal

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