Who can receive Free School Meals?

Where eligible, Free School Meals are available for full time pupils at school.

From September 2014 all pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 in state-funded schools in England are eligible for Free School Meals (FSMs). This includes Academies, Free Schools, Pupil Referral Units and Alternative Provisions as well as Maintained Schools.

Note: Children being taught a year behind and are placed within KS1 will still be eligible for Universal Infant Free School Meals  eg: DOB for Year 3, however allocated as a Year 2 school admission.

Existing entitlements to Free School Meals for disadvantaged pupils in Nursery Classes and at Key Stages 2-4 will continue as now, based on the existing Free School Meals eligibility criteria.