Free School Meals and
Pupil Premium
Free School Meal (FSM) Eligibility and the Pupil Premium is additional funding for publicly funded schools in England. It is designed to help disadvantaged pupils of all abilities perform better, and close the gap between them and their peers. Free School Meals and Pupil Premium pupils are monitored closely and we utilise the funding to ensure high quality provision to suit individual requirements.
Pupil Premium Statement 2025-26EXPANDED FREE SCHOOL MEAL (FSM) ELIGIBILITY AND THE PUPIL PREMIUM
Your child may newly qualify for free school meals, and we want to encourage you to register them.
From September 2026, all pupils in households receiving Universal Credit are eligible for free school meals. Your household income doesn’t matter – as long as you receive Universal Credit, your child can claim free school meals. We strongly encourage you to check if you’re eligible under the new criteria. See below for more information on how to check if your child qualifies.
Children in reception, year 1 and year 2 will continue to receive free school meals through a different scheme. However, if they are also eligible for free school meals in line with the criteria below, we still really want you to register – see why below.
Your child may also get free school meals if you receive any of the benefits listed below and your child is younger than the compulsory age for starting school and in full-time education (or if part-time, they attend both before and after the lunch period).
Why register for free school meals?
Pupils who are registered for free school meals will get healthy, nutritious and balanced food at school that helps make sure they’re ready to learn and thrive at school.
Registering your child for free school meals is also important because the school might get extra ‘pupil premium’ funding from the government as a result – for each eligible pupil, the school will get an extra £1,550 in pupil premium funding in 2026/27.
If you prefer your child to have packed lunches, don’t worry – they can still have this if they’re registered for free school meals.
Is my child eligible for Free School Meals and the Pupil Premium?
From September 2026, there will be 2 categories of free school meals:
Targeted FSM – your child may be eligible if you receive:
- Universal Credit and have an annual household income of £7,400 or less
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
Your child might also qualify if you have no recourse to public funds (NRPF).
Pupils receiving targeted FSM:
- Can receive free school meals
- Will attract pupil premium funding for the school
- May be eligible for other support, such as the Holiday Activities and Food programme
Expanded FSM – your child is eligible if you receive:
- Universal Credit and have an annual household income of over £7,400
Pupils receiving expanded FSM:
- Can receive free school meals
- Will not attract pupil premium funding for the school, nor be eligible for other support that’s based on targeted FSM
How do I register?
Please register via
www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/free-school-meals/apply-for-free-school-meals
More information
If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to get in touch
You can also find more information at