Free School Meals – changes from September 2026

From the start of the 2026/27 academic year, eligibility for Free School Meals has been expanded.

All children from households receiving Universal Credit are now entitled to receive Free School Meals, regardless of household earnings, provided an application has been made and eligibility has been verified.

There are now two categories to Free School Meals:

Targeted Free School Meals

Targeted FSM continues to use the previous eligibility threshold. This includes pupils from households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less.

Students eligible for Targeted FSM may also attract Pupil Premium and other disadvantage funding for the school.

Expanded Free School Meals

Expanded FSM applies to pupils from households receiving Universal Credit who do not meet the income threshold for Targeted FSM.

These students are entitled to receive a free school meal, but eligibility through Expanded FSM alone does not attract Pupil Premium funding.

Applying for Free School Meals

Families are encouraged to apply even if they are unsure which category applies to them.

Applications for Free School Meals can be made directly through Hertfordshire County Council:

Apply for Free School Meals – Hertfordshire County Council

Once an application has been made and eligibility checked, families will be informed whether they qualify for Targeted FSM or Expanded FSM.

Further information about the changes to Free School Meals is available from the Department for Education:

Free School Meals – guidance for schools and local authorities

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Free School Meals for families with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)

Free School Meals are also available to eligible children from families with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF).

Eligibility is subject to household income thresholds.

Income thresholds

For families outside London, annual household income must not exceed:

• £22,700 for families with one child
• £26,300 for families with two or more children

For families within London, annual household income must not exceed:

• £31,200 for families with one child
• £34,800 for families with two or more children

Whether the London or outside-London threshold applies is determined by the family's home address.

Families must also have no more than £16,000 in capital and savings.

Who may be eligible?

Eligible NRPF groups include, but are not limited to, children of:

• Zambrano carers;
• families with no recourse to public funds who have a right to remain in the UK on grounds of private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights;
• families receiving support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 who are also subject to a no recourse to public funds restriction;
• some failed asylum seekers supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999;
• Chen carers;
• families holding a British National (Overseas) – BN(O) – passport;
• spousal visa holders;
• work visa holders;
• student visa holders; and
• those with no immigration status.

Further information about eligibility and how to make an application for families with No Recourse to Public Funds is available from the UK Vissa and Immigration - part of the Home Office. 

Free School Meals for families with No Recourse to Public Funds

 

 

If you have any issues registering online, please contact the Finance Team at accounts@queens.herts.sch.uk.