Free School Meals (FSM)
Free School Meals are available to eligible children and provide them with a meal at school each day which supports physical annd mental health, concentration, attendance and overall academic performance.
All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are eligible to receive a free school meal automatically through the Universal Infant Free School Meals offer; some children in Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 may also receive a Free School Meal if their parents meet specified criteria.
Free School Meals for children are available to those parents are in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:
- 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 Part VI 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
Families are encouraged to apply for their child to recieve Free School Meals if they think they may be eligible, as schools receive additional funding for every child who qualifies - for every child who is registered as receiving Free School Meals, the school will receive an additional £1515 in Pupil Premium funding.
If an application is successful, the child will be eligible to receive Free School Meals immediately. If your child is in EYFS or KS1, they will automatically be eligible to enjoy a school meal under the Universal Infant Free School Meals programme - however, this does not automatically mean the school will be able to access Pupil Premium funding (so we would encourage all families, regardless of which year group their child is in, who think they may qualify for their child to receive Free School Meals to apply).
Holiday Free School Meals Vouchers are also available to support eligible families during the school holidays. For information about Holiday Free School Meals Vouchers and other services available, please visit the Holiday and Free School Meals webpage on the Gloucestershire County Council website.
For further information about Free School Meals, visit the Gloucestershire County Council website.
