Important – changes to Free School Meals from September 2026

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2025/06/expanding-free-school-meals-what-parents-need-to-know/

Starting in September 2026, free school meal (FSM) eligibility is expanding in England to all children from households receiving Universal Credit, completely removing the previous £7,400 net income cap. Crucially, historical "transitional protections" are ending, meaning all families must apply or reapply to have their eligibility re-verified.

The Department for Education (DfE) has established two main benefit-based tiers for FSM: 

• Targeted FSM: Families on Universal Credit earning £7,400 or less per year. These pupils will also attract Pupil Premium and other school deprivation funding. 
• Expanded FSM: Families on Universal Credit earning above £7,400 per year. These children will receive free school meals but will not attract Pupil Premium funding. 
• Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM): Unchanged, this still applies to all pupils in Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 regardless of income. 

If your child currently receives FSM under the old criteria or transitional protections, you must verify your ongoing eligibility under the new rules to avoid any disruption to your child's meal provision in the autumn term. 

You will need to submit a fresh application through your local council or school. For exact local application forms, you can apply directly through the government's Apply for Free School Meals portal or our local authority, Nottinghamshire County Council.

The local authority have confirmed they are contacting all on their free school meal register, but if you have not been contacted and you know you are on the list, we advise you contact them. 

Nottinghamshire County Council FSM customer service - 0300 500 80 80.

Click on the link below to be taken to the Notts County Council website where you can check your eligibility and apply for Free School Meals.