Free School Meals
Free School Meals – Check Your Eligibility
Help us check if your child can receive free school meals
We want to make sure that every child who is eligible for free school meals receives them.
To help us do this, we are asking parents and carers to provide a few details so we can check eligibility on your behalf.
Free School Meal Eligibility – Fill in form
Why this matters
Changes introduced by the Department for Education mean that all current eligibility for free school meals ends on 31 August 2026.
For your child to continue to receive free school meals a new check must be carried out. The changes also mean that regular (at least annual) eligibility checks for free school meals are required.
By sharing your details with us:
- We can carry out the check for you quickly and securely
- You won’t need to complete the process separately each year
- Your child won’t miss out if your circumstances change
What are free school meals?
If your child is eligible, they can receive:
- A free, healthy meal every school day
- Additional support in school funded through the Pupil Premium
This support makes a real difference to children’s learning, wellbeing and opportunities.
How this benefits your child’s school
When a child is registered for free school meals:
- The school receives additional funding (Pupil Premium)
- This funding is used to support:
- Extra teaching support
- Pastoral care and wellbeing provision
- Enrichment opportunities and resources
Even if your child prefers a packed lunch, registering still helps the school.
What you need to complete the form
The form takes just a few minutes. Please have the following ready:
- Parent/carer full name
- Date of birth
- National Insurance number
Free School Meal Eligibility – Fill in form
Prefer to check yourself?
You can check your eligibility directly using the LGFL system:
However, we strongly recommend using our form so we can:
- Carry out checks automatically each year
- Ensure no eligible child is missed
- Keep your child’s eligibility up to date
Your information
We will:
- Use your information only to check eligibility for free school meals
- Handle all information securely and in line with data protection requirements
- Not share your data for any other purposes
Don’t miss out
Even if you’re unsure whether you qualify, it’s worth checking. Many families are eligible and don’t realise.
