Free school meals

Changes from September 2026

From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit, attending relevant schools, will be entitled to receive a free meal.

Going forward, there will be 2 categories of benefits-based free school meals:

• Targeted FSM, which continues to be based on the existing threshold, covering pupils who are in households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less
• Expanded FSM, a new category covering pupils who do not qualify for targeted FSM, but who are in households receiving Universal Credit

Who is eligible for free school meals

Children and young people can apply for free school meals if they:

• attend a Kirklees school
• attend school full time
• are of statutory school age

and their parents or carers receive one or more of the following:

• Universal Credit
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Are in receipt of income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Receive the guarantee element of Pension Credit
• Meet criteria for families with no recourse to public funds

Other school entitlements

If your child is entitled to Targeted free school meals, they may also be entitled to things like free milk, help towards school trips and other support. Your child's school receives additional money to be able to provide these extra things. This is called the pupil premium.

Home to School Transport - if your child is entitled to Targeted FSM, any application for home to school transport will be assessed under the low-income criteria. If your child receives Expanded FSM, their home to school transport application will be assessed under the general criteria.

If your child is in full time education, and you receive one or more of the benefits stated above, please fill in an application form even if your child is in Reception, year 1 or year 2.

Universal infant free school meals

All infant school pupils in state funded schools in England are eligible for a free school meal. Every child in reception, year 1 and year 2 can enjoy a hot, nutritious meal at lunch time. Everyone is entitled, regardless of circumstances and you don't need to apply. Speak to your child's school for more information.

How to apply for free school meals

Fill in our simple online form.

Clock Completing this form takes around 10 minutes.

Paperclip To complete this form you will need both you and your partner's National Insurance Number or NASS (National Asylum Support Service) number.

Apply for free school meals

After you've applied

We will contact your child's school to tell them the start date of your free school meal entitlement. We will also email you to inform you of the start date.

If you have had a recent change in circumstances, you will need to notify the DWP. This will need to be processed before we can assess your entitlement to free school meals.