Healthy school food can help pupils establish healthy habits for life and help to improve pupils’ readiness to learn.

You may be entitled to receive free school meals (FSM) if you are in receipt of certain welfare benefits or support. You could also raise additional pupil premium funding for your child’s school to fund support like extra tuition, additional teaching staff or after school activities.

All children get FSM if they are in reception, year 1 or year 2 as part of the universal infant free school meals. Children attending a primary school in London will also receive FSM as part of the Mayor’s free school meal initiative.

However, if you receive any of the benefits below you should still apply so that the school gets extra funding. Children must also receive education both before and after the lunch period to be eligible for FSM.

Am I eligible?

You must already be receiving any of the following benefits to apply for FSM:

• Income support
• Income-based Job Seeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit, provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not exceed £16,190
• Working Tax Credit 'run-on' - the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit

You are not eligible for FSM if you receive Working Tax Credit or other support payments that are not mentioned above.

Children who receive these benefits above directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals. If this applies to you, please complete the application with your own information.