Apply for free school meals
Free school meals are authorised directly via your child's school.
Eligibility
The government provides free school meals for all pupils in reception to year 2 who attend state funded primary schools.
The Greater London Authority has provided funding to local authorities to extend this entitlement to year groups 3 to 6, from September 2023 to July 2026. This has now been extended for another year until July 2027.
In both cases, children will receive the entitlements automatically, but it is really important for parents on a low income, or who receive certain benefits, to apply for mean-tested free school meals in order for your child's school to receive extra funding.
Means-tested free school meals
From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, free school meal eligibility has been expanded to all children from households receiving Universal Credit regardless of household earnings.
Free school meals are available to pupils who receive, or whose parents receive, one or more of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- The guarantee element of Pension Credit
- Meet criteria set out in separate guidance for families with no recourse to public funds
A pupil is only eligible to receive a free school meal where both:
- A claim for this support has been made
- Their eligibility has been verified by the school where they are enrolled or by the local authority
There are two types of eligibility:
Targeted Free School Meals
Children from households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less, will be eligible for targeted free school meals.
In addition to receiving free meals, pupils eligible for targeted free school meals will attract pupil premium and other disadvantage funding for their schools.
Expanded Free School Meals
Children from households receiving Universal Credit, with annual household earnings above £7,400 will be entitled to expanded free school meals (meals only).
Children who get any of these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.
Children under the compulsory school age who are in full time education may also be eligible for free meals.
Children in households with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)
From 13 April 2022 the government have permanently extended free school meal eligibility to children in all households with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), subject to maximum income thresholds.
Read the NRPF guidance which explains who these groups are and how schools can verify their eligibility and award free school meals.
How to apply
Every Community, V.A Foundations, Academy and Free School in Wandsworth is responsible for authorising free school meals for their pupils.
For queries and to apply for free school meals, contact your child's school directly.
Further information
View how to: