Support and Benefits for Children at School

Free School Meals & Free Milk

Your child will automatically get free school meals if they’re in a government-funded school, and in:


• Reception
• Year 1

• Year 2

Your child may be entitled to continue free school meals from Year 3 if you get any of the following:

• Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guarantee element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian can also get free school meals.



Children attending maintained nurseries may also qualify for a free school meal as long as they are receiving funded early years education before and after lunch, and the parent is eligible for one of the qualifying benefits.

Please Note; If your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 and you are in receipt of any of the above benefits, you must still make a claim for free school meals even if you are entitled to the Universal Free School Meals. This is to ensure the school receives the correct entitlement of Pupil Premium for your child.

Eligibility is sometimes reviewed, and on occasion this may mean a child no longer qualifies for free school meals. If anything changes, we’ll make sure to let you know and offer guidance on the next steps.

School Uniform Allowance



We no longer provide support for school uniforms. Any new applications beyond 30th September 2024 will not be considered. 

Food Holiday Vouchers



Free school meal vouchers will no longer be available from September 2025-26 academic year. Families in receipt of free school meals can still access half term support and activities through the Holiday Activity Fund and apply for resident supermarket and energy vouchers in the normal way.

Please visit Household Support Vouchers for information

How to Apply

Free School Meals when Self-Employed



You may still be entitled to free school meals if you are self-employed and on Universal Credit.

You will need to provide:

• A copy of your most recent Universal Credit statement 
• A copy of your company registration or tax return 
• A completed copy of the self-declaration form, which you can download below

Download Self-Employment Form