Pupil Premium and Free School Meals |
Expanded entitlement for families receiving Universal Credit
From September 2026, all children in households receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to receive a free school meal, regardless of household earnings. This applies to pupils attending maintained schools and academies.
There will be two categories of benefits-based free school meals:
Targeted Free School Meals
Children in households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less will qualify for Targeted Free School Meals.
In addition to free meals, eligibility for Targeted FSM provides access to:
- Pupil Premium funding for schools
- Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme
- Extended rights school travel assistance (where applicable)
- Other support linked to disadvantage funding
Families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) and some households receiving other qualifying benefits may also be eligible for Targeted FSM.
Expanded Free School Meals
Children in households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings above £7,400 will qualify for Expanded Free School Meals.
These pupils will receive a free school meal but will not attract Pupil Premium funding or qualify for additional benefits linked to Targeted FSM, such as the HAF programme.
Universal Infant Free School Meals
Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 will continue to receive a free school meal under the Universal Infant Free School Meals scheme regardless of family circumstances.
End of Transitional Protection Arrangements
Since 2018, some pupils have continued to receive free school meals even when their family circumstances changed. These arrangements, known as transitional protections, this ended on 31 August 2026.
From September 2026:
- Eligibility will be based on your current benefits and circumstances.
- Some children may no longer qualify if they do not receive Universal Credit or another qualifying benefit.
- Central Bedfordshire Council will carry out regular eligibility checks and will contact families if entitlement changes.
What do you need to do?
If your child already receives Free School Meals
In most cases, you do not need to submit a new application.
Central Bedfordshire Council operates an automatic enrolment system, using information already held through services such as Council Tax Support and Housing Benefit to identify eligible families.
The council will:
- Check eligibility using information already held
- Contact you if further information is needed
- Inform you if your child's entitlement changes
If your child does not currently receive Free School Meals
You may be eligible under the expanded criteria.
If you have not been automatically enrolled and believe your child may qualify, you can find information about applying on the Central Bedfordshire Council website:
www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/benefits/free-school-meals
Why register?
If your child qualifies for Targeted Free School Meals, registering can provide valuable support.
Benefits include:
- A healthy meal every school day
- Access to the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme
- Additional funding for the school through the Pupil Premium, helping schools provide extra support, resources and opportunities for pupils.
Even if your child is already receiving Universal Infant Free School Meals in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2, registering for Targeted FSM can still provide additional funding for the school.
Need advice?
If you are unsure whether your child is eligible, have recently had a change in circumstances, or would like further information, please contact:
- Central Bedfordshire Council on 0300 300 8000
Further information can be found at: