Important Changes to Free School Meals from September 2026
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There are important national changes to Free School Meals (FSM) coming from September 2026.
These changes may affect your child's entitlement, and more families than ever may now be eligible, so it's important to take a moment to check.
What is changing?
- All children in households receiving Universal Credit will now be able to receive free school meals
- There will be two categories of support:
- Targeted Free School Meals - for families with household earnings of £7,400 or less (additional support may apply)
- Expanded Free School Meals - for families on Universal Credit with higher earnings (free meals provided, but different funding arrangements for schools)
Parents will have received a letter with additional information.
