Children from qualifying families can get free school meals throughout their school years. Use this page to see if your child is eligible and why it’s important to apply for free school meals as soon as they start school.
From 1 September 2026, all children in families receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to free school meals, regardless of household income.
If your child gets free school meals now, please note that the transitional protection scheme ends on 31 August 2026. We'll check whether your child is still eligible before the start of the 2026/27 school year. We'll contact you if they no longer qualify.
Who can get free school meals
All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 can get free school meals, whatever your income. From Year 3 only certain children can continue to get free school meals.
From 1 September 2026, all children in households receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to free school meals, regardless of household income. This applies to all children attending state-funded schools, nurseries and academies.
We encourage all families who receive Universal Credit or other qualifying benefits to apply as soon as your child starts school, even if your child already receives universal infant free school meals.
There will be two categories of benefits-based free school meals:
Expanded free school meals
From September 2026, children in households receiving Universal Credit with earnings above £7,400 per year may also qualify for free school meals.
If you have applied for Universal Credit, your child will only become eligible for free school meals when you receive your first Universal Credit payment.
Targeted free school meals
Your child may qualify for these if you receive:
- Universal Credit and your annual earnings are £7,400 or less. These pupils continue to get pupil premium funding for their school.
- the Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit
- support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Support for families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) where eligibility criteria are met. Find out more on NRPF, below
Children who meet these criteria are also eligible for pupil premium funding.
Pupil premium is additional funding to support your child's education and potential. This is paid by the government to schools for every child who has (or has had) benefit-related free school meals.
What pupil premium is and why it is important
This money can make a large difference to schools: In 2025/26, it was worth £1,550 per year for primary students and £1,100 for secondary.
The school only receives the money when you apply for free school meals. We therefore encourage you to apply for free school meals even for the years when your child is automatically entitled (Reception to Year 2) as this means three years' extra funding for their school.
Your child may also be eligible for free school meals in two other cases:
If your child is receiving education other than at school (EOTAS) and you think you may meet the above eligibility criteria, please apply for benefit-related free school meals using the online form at the bottom of this page.
The government has permanently extended free school meals to children in all households with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), subject to maximum income thresholds.
Please visit the GOV.UK website for eligibility criteria, income thresholds and more information on free school meals for families with no recourse to public funds.
Before you apply
You will need to supply the following information accurately and in full for us to process your application:
- Dates of birth for you, any other parent and guardian, and all of your children (we may use this information to refer you to additional benefits or support that you may be able to get)
- Contact details for you and any other parent or guardian
- Your National Insurance number
- Your asylum support reference number (for applicants without a National Insurance number)
How to apply
Online
This is the quickest, easiest and most environmentally friendly way to apply for free school meals (or register your child's eligibility).
Apply online for free school meals
By phone
Call us on 01225 477 277 (Option 4) to make a telephone registration. You will need to supply all of the details in Before you apply, above. If the lines are busy, please leave a message with your telephone number, and we will call you back to complete your registration.
By post
Download, print and complete this registration form and post it to us at:
Welfare Support & Benefits
Free School Meals
Bath & North East Somerset Council
Lewis House
Manvers Street
Bath BA1 1JG
Next steps
We aim to get in touch with you about your child's eligibility within 10 working days. However, during periods of high demand this may take longer.
If your child is confirmed as eligible, they will receive free school meals until the end of the academic year. We carry out annual eligibility reviews every July. If your circumstances change and your child is no longer eligible, free school meals will end at the start of the following academic year.
If your circumstances change
Please let us know if your circumstances change in any of the following ways:
- You have an additional child starting school
- You move house (please also tell the school)
If you have any other enquiries, please email freeschoolmeals@bathnes.gov.uk or telephone the free school meals helpline on 01225 477 277 (option 4).