Free school meals
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Getting ready for the September 2026 free school meals policy changes
There are two national free school meals (FSM) policy changes coming into effect from September 2026
- Transitional protection (TP) ends
- Entitlement for FSM expands to all households on Universal Credit (UC)
In both instances, many children will likely fall through the cracks and miss out on FSM. Local authorities must be prepared to respond and mitigate this risk.
Policy changes
| Policy change | Transitional protection (TP) ends | Entitlement for FSM expands to all households on Universal Credit (UC) |
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Current policy arrangements
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Since 2018, pupils who qualified have been protected by TP. This means they continue to receive FSM even if household income rises above the£7,400 threshold. This is a ‘safety net’keeping children on FSM, despite changes in family income.
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Families on UC qualify for FSM if their net earned income (before benefits) is below a set threshold (£7,400 annually).
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Post September 2026
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TP will end at the end of the 25/26 school year (July).There is no ‘carry-over’ of free school meals eligibility beyond the cut-off, though pupils will continue to qualify for Ever 6 funding until the end of their 6-year funding period.
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The income cap is being removed,and anyone on UC will become entitled to FSM. Over 500,000 additional pupils are expected to become entitled. Expanded FSM will not attract other disadvantaged funding (e.g. Pupil Premium or FSM / Ever 6). Pupils in households who earn below the £7,400 threshold will attract Pupil Premium funding.
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Why this matters
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Families losing TP will lose FSM,however schools will continue to receive disadvantaged funding through Ever 6 and Pupil Premium.Pupils may become entitled for FSM under the new UC threshold, but not realise it.
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Thousands of working families on UC will become entitled overnight. Many will not realise they qualify and will not apply for FSM.Schools and councils will need to manage increased demand and queries regarding registration.
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What these changes mean for you
When these policy changes take effect in September 2026, an estimated 500,000+ additional pupils will become entitled via Expanded FSM, while those relying solely on TP will lose entitlement.
The combined impact of these shifts means local authorities and schools must prepare for an increase in:
- queries from families and schools regarding FSM status
- administrative burdens as schools evaluate and submit new registration forms
- meal volumes that schools are required to cater for
- sensitive situations at school, where former TP pupils may arrive expecting a free meal they are no longer entitled to.
A solution
Opt-out auto-award is a practical solution that councils can use to help mitigate some of these risks, by embedding a system that proactively identifies pupils who are entitled, but not currently receiving FSM.
Practical steps for local authorities
To ensure you have a fully operational auto-enrolment process by the September 2026 deadline, we recommend prioritising these immediate actions:
- Assess policy impact: Quantify the number of pupils likely to become newly entitled
- Consider resource requirements: Prepare teams for a surge in queries and applications from families
- Communicate early: Share information about the policy changes with schools and families early
- A solution: opt-out auto-award. Contact Ashlee.Teakle@Basis.co.uk to discuss further
FSM brings many benefits to councils, schools and families and you can read about these on the Basis website.
Extending free school meal provisions
The council provide universal free school meals to pupils in primary and secondary schools (up to the age of 16) who attend a state-funded school in the borough.
You do not have to do anything for your children to receive free meals at their school.
What does this mean for people who receive benefits?
Schools may be entitled to extra funding for your child if you meet certain eligibility criteria. This extra funding is called Pupil Premium. The council still needs to identify eligible children to allocate Pupil Premium funding correctly.
Parent/carers do not have to do anything if:
- your child is already recorded as eligible to receive the benefit of free school meals at their school
- you do not receive any benefits and have an annual gross income of more than £16,190.
If you receive any of the following benefits but your child has not received free school meals in the past, you must complete the application form.
Child’s application form
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (if 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
- Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get).
If this is not possible, call us on 020 7364 5001 and we can assist you. If you do not apply, your child/children’s school may miss out on vital funding.
Information that parent/carers need to share:
- child’s name, date of birth and school
- evidence of the parent’s (or guardian’s) income (unless this has been provided already) and national insurance details.
Children from households with No Recourse to Public Funds
Government has permanently extended free school meal eligibility to children in all households with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), subject to maximum income thresholds.
Contact your school for more information and support on how to apply.
You can also find out more information on GOV.UK.
Transactional protection statement
The following pupils will be protected against losing their free school meal status:
- Since 1 April 2018, all existing free school meals claimants have continued to receive free school meals whilst Universal Credit is rolled out. This applies even if their earnings rise above the threshold during that time.
- Any pupil gaining eligibility for free school meals after 1 April 2018 will be protected against losing free school meals until March 2025.
- After March 2025, any existing claimants that no longer meet the eligibility criteria at that point (because they are earning above the threshold or are no longer a recipient of Universal Credit) will continue to receive free school meals until the end of their current phase of education (i.e. primary or secondary).
- A pupil is only eligible to receive a free school meal when
- a claim for the meal has been made on their behalf and
- their eligibility or protected status has been verified by the school where they are enrolled or by the local authority.
Common questions
Tower Hamlets conducted an auto-enrolment project. What does this mean?
We have conducted a data matching exercise as part of the auto-enrolment process to identify children who are eligible to receive extra benefits. The Benefits team have posted letter to these families to explain the process, and to give them the option to opt out, should they choose . This process was completed on 5 October 2023.
Who does the Universal Free School Meals apply to?
The council provides universal free school meals to pupils in primary and secondary schools (up to the age of 16) who live in the borough and attend state-run schools.
Do I have to tell the council about changes in circumstances?
If you are claiming Housing Benefits or Council Tax Reduction, you must tell the council about any changes to your income.
You also need to inform the council if your circumstances change. For example, you must tell the council if your child changes school, or if you change address. If you change your address, please complete the change of circumstances form or email us on benefits@towerhamlets.gov.uk.
Can I appeal a decision?
If your child is found as ineligible for free school meals, you can appeal. You will need to show that the information used in making the decision was incorrect.
If you wish to discuss making an appeal, please call on 020 7364 5001.
What if my child/children attend schools in Tower Hamlets, but I live outside the borough?
Contact the council where you live.
You can call the Benefits team on 020 7364 5001 if you have any questions.
What if we live in Tower Hamlets, but my child/children attend schools outside the borough?
Parents should apply to the authority where the school is located. The school secretary should be able to give you more information about this.
Can children in care claim free school meals?
No, children in care are not eligible for free school meals. The payments made as part of the fostering allowance will cover the costs of all meals for the child.
If a child is in private fostering, claims should be made to the free school meals team and eligibility checks carried out in the usual way.
Do nursery children have a universal entitlement for free school meals (FSM) like infant children?
The universal free school meal entitlement begins when a child starts at school for reception, year 1 and year 2. Not all nursery children will be eligible for a free school meal.
Which early year’s providers must offer a Free School Meal?
Local authority-run schools and academies must offer a free school meal to eligible nursery children.
What are the eligibility criteria for nursery school children?
The child must attend nursery both before and after the lunchtime period. They must also meet the benefits criteria. The same benefits criteria apply to nursery school children as apply to children in school.
Does it matter if a child is attending for funded or bought hours?
Only children who are funded by the local authority can receive free school meals. Those paying to attend nurseries are not entitled to receive free school meals.
Can all ages of children in the nursery receive a free school meal?
No, children have to be two years or older to receive free school meals.
A child is two and is eligible for the free Early Years Education Funding. Does this mean the child is eligible for free school meals?
The eligibility criteria for two-year-old funding and free school meals differ. However, if a two-year-old child applies for free school meals and is found eligible, both can be claimed.