Free School Meals
New criteria
From 1st September 2026, free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Are in receipt of income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Receive the guarantee element of Pension Credit
- Meet criteria set out for families with no recourse to public funds.
Changes
The changes that took effect on 1st September 2026 for benefit related Free School Meals were:
FSM eligibility protection ended
Previously central government had started an initiative on 1st April 2018 that any benefit related free school meals eligibility would be protected, this was referred to as transitional protection. This meant that eligibility would continue while Universal Credit was being rolled out. The transitional protection that has been in place since that date ended on 31st August 2026.
Universal Credit eligibility changes
From 1st September, FSM eligibility was expanded to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit regardless of household earnings. There are 2 categories of eligibility for families in receipt of Universal Credit. The 2 categories are:
Universal Credit targeted FSM eligibility
Children from households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less (the existing threshold for FSM prior to the expansion), will be eligible for targeted FSM. In addition to receiving free meals, pupils eligible for targeted FSM will attract pupil premium and other disadvantage funding for their schools. Other education entitlements that have previously been linked to eligibility for FSM, such as the Holiday Activities and Food program (HAF) and the ‘extended rights’ element of school travel assistance, will also continue to be based on targeted FSM.
Universal Credit expanded FSM eligibility
Children from households in receipt of Universal Credit, with annual household earnings exceeding £7,400 will be entitled to expanded FSM (meals only).
What to do next?
If you have not done so already, you will have to re-check your child’s eligibility for free school meals. Please confirm the information that Beechwood School holds for you on our database or if you have not provided us with your information, please provide the following so that the school can carry out an FSM eligibility check for you.
You need to provide or confirm the following details for each adult with parental responsibility who lives with your child:
First Name
Last Name
Date of Birth
National Insurance or Asylum Number
This information can be sent to Miss Haidee Moore, Data Officer at h.moore@beechwood.slough.sch.uk
Alternatively, if you have not provided the above information to your us, you can apply or re-apply online via the Slough Borough Council website and submit a claim online. This will be processed and an outcome will be emailed to you; the results and information will be shared with Beechwood.
