Free School Meals
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
If you think you are entitled, you can apply using the following link:
https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/schools/free-school-meals.aspx
We recommend that you apply as soon as possible as the FSM team at Kirklees will be very busy with new applications ahead of this change in September.
If you have any questions, please call in to the school office or ring us on 01274 651232.


