What if I believe my child is entitled to Free School Meals and, therefore, Pupil Premium?

Your child may be eligible for free school meals if you are receiving any of the following:

• Universal Credit
• Pension Guarantee Credit
• Employment and Support Allowance, income related
• support under part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act, 1999

From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit attending school will be entitled to receive a free meal.

This has been made this a legal requirement through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. 

Going forward, there will be 2 categories of benefits-based free school meals:

• Targeted FSM, which continues to be based on the existing threshold, covering pupils in households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less
• Expanded FSM, a new category covering pupils who do not qualify for targeted FSM, but who are in households receiving Universal Credit

Please click on the link to the Essex County Council Website which gives further information on how to apply:

https://www.essex.gov.uk/free-school-meals