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Free School Meals

Information about applying for free school meals

Free School Meals

FREE SCHOOL MEALS

If you are eligible, your child/ward will receive a nutritious and balanced meal that supports healthy growth, wellbeing and concentration.

Changes to Free School Meals from September 2026

From September 2026, the government is expanding eligibility for Free School Meals (FSM).

All children in households receiving Universal Credit will now be entitled to free school meals, regardless of income level. This means more families will qualify for support.

From September 2026 there are two types of eligibility for free school meals.

  1. Targeted Free School Meals

For families who get:

  • Universal Credit with household earnings of £7,400 or less per year.
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
  • Guarantee element of Pension Credit.

Families who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF) may also be eligible. If your family has NRPF status, please contact the school office to find out more.

Families eligible for targeted free school meals may get additional benefits, including extra funding for schools to support your child’s education.

  1. Expanded Free School Meals

For families who get:

  • Universal Credit with household earnings above £7,400 per year.

End of Transitional Protection

Temporary protections that allowed children to continue to receive free school meals without rechecking eligibility will end in July 2026.

From September 2026 all families will need to meet the updated eligibility criteria. You don’t need to do anything as we will automatically recheck your eligibility. We will let you know if anything changes.

If you claim Universal Credit or other eligible benefits, it is very important you apply for a free school meal. If you don’t make an application, we will not receive the correct funding for your child’s meal.

How to Apply

Apply here: https://apply.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/sims-trafford 

Further support
Anyone experiencing hardship should contact their Local Authority for advice on local support schemes for those who cannot afford food and other essential supplies.

Trafford Directory: Trafford Directory

 

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