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Free school meals are changing from September 2026. All school-aged children in a household that receives Universal Credit will be entitled to free school meals from the start of the 2026/27 academic year. When the process of combining the old benefit types into Universal Credit started in 2018, all children on benefit related free school meals retained this entitlement, regardless of any change in circumstances. That process has now ended.

  • Any children currently receiving benefit related free school meals must meet the new eligibility criteria and must complete a re-check by applying below to continue receiving free school meals.
  • The free school meal scheme is available to all school age children who attend a state-funded school, school sixth form or Department for Education funded further education institution, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria.

Types of free school meal

There are now three types of free school meal:

  • Universal Infant Free School Meals - available for children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 only

  • Expanded Free School Meals 

  • Targeted Free School Meals 

Eligibility for Universal Infant Free School Meals 

All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, if they’re in government funded schools, are automatically entitled to free school meals. This is regardless of the earnings or benefit status of their households. You do not need to make an application for Universal Infant Free School Meals.

Accessing Universal Infant Free School Meals does NOT make your child eligible for the Holiday and Activities Food programme (HAF). You will need to make an application for the new Expanded/Targeted free school meals. Details of how to apply can be found further down this page. You will only be eligible for HAF if your application comes back as ‘Targeted’.

When your child moves into Year 3, they will stop being automatically eligible for free school meals under the Universal Infant Free School Meal scheme and you will need to make an application for the new Expanded/Targeted free school meals. If that comes back as eligible, they will continue to receive free school meals for the rest of that academic year regardless of any changes on circumstances.

Free school meal eligibility will now be rechecked annually, starting in August and finishing no later than the October half-term. Pupils who no longer meet the targeted or expanded criteria will no longer be eligible to receive free meals.

If you are eligible for Targeted Free School, this will also provide Pupil Premium Funding of between £1,100 and £1,550 for your school

Eligibility for Expanded Free School Meals

Households receiving Universal Credit with annual earnings of more than £7,400. This will entitle your child to the following:

  • A free school meal each day during term-time.

Eligibility for Targeted Free School Meals

Households receiving Universal Credit with annual earnings of £7,400 or less. This will entitle your child to the following:

  • A free school meal each day during term-time.
  • Eligibility to book place on the Holiday and Activities Food programme (HAF), subject to meeting eligibility criteria including age and school attendance. Please book your child's space in advance.
  • Free home to school travel, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria related to the distance between their home and school.

Other eligibility criteria

The following groups of children are included for free school meals who have no recourse to public funds (opens page on GOV.UK) and whose gross household income is no more than £22,700 for families with one child and £26,300 per year for families with two or more children. The income thresholds are different for families who live in London.

In addition to these thresholds, families must hold no more than £16,000 in capital and savings. These groups are:

  • Zambrano carers
  • Families who have no recourse to public funds with 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
  • A subset of failed asylum seekers supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (household income thresholds do not apply)
  • Chen carers
  • Families holding a BN(O) passport
  • Spousal visa holders
  • Work visa holders
  • Student visa holders
  • Those with no immigration status

If you would like more information or details on what supporting evidence is required, please contact fsm@peterborough.gov.uk.

Children of parents or guardians receiving the following benefits may also be eligible for free school meals. Supporting evidence will be required.

  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • The guaranteed element of Pension Credit (This will typically be a Pension Credit M1000 Award Notice)

If you would like more information or details on what supporting evidence is required, please contact fsm@peterborough.gov.uk.

The free school meal scheme is also available to students aged 16 to 19 who attend a state-funded school sixth form or Department for Education-funded further education institution, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria for Expanded/Targeted free school meals.

For students aged over 19, as well as meeting the other eligibility criteria, they must either:

  • Be continuing on the same study programme (19+ continuers) they started before they turned 19.
  • Have an education health and care (EHC) plan.

How to apply for free school meals

How you apply depends on which school your child attends. This application is for:

  • Expanded Free School Meals
  • Targeted Free School Meals

You do not need to apply for Universal Infant Free School Meals unless you are also applying for Targeted Free School Meals to access the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.

Please check the eligibility information before applying.

Find your child's school

Step one

If your school is listed below, please apply using the Peterborough City Council online application form. If your school is not listed, please check step two.

  • All Saints' CofE (Aided) Primary School
  • Brewster Avenue Infant School
  • Eye CofE Primary School
  • Greater Peterborough UTC
  • Leighton Primary and Preschool
  • Orton Wistow Primary School
  • St Augustine's CofE (Voluntary Aided) Junior School
  • The King's (The Cathedral) School
  • Woodston Primary School

After you apply:

  • Applications are usually processed within 5 to 7 working days.
  • If your application is successful, you and your child's school will be notified.

If you need help, email fsm@peterborough.gov.uk.

Step two

If your school is listed below, please apply by contacting the school directly. If your school is not listed, please check step three.

Step three

If your child's school is not listed in step one or step two, you will need to apply via Cambridgeshire County Council's online application form on their free school meals webpage. 

After you apply:

  • Applications are usually processed within 5 to 7 working days.
  • If your application is successful, you and your child's school will be notified.
  • If your child is not currently eligible, the application will continue to be checked for future eligibility.

For support or questions, please contact the Cambridgeshire Free School Meal team at ewb.fsm@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Pupil Premium

Pupil Premium is additional funding that the government gives to schools for every child from Reception to Year 11 who are recorded as eligible for free school meals.

Your child's school will receive the Pupil Premium if you apply for free school meals and you meet the eligibility criteria above.

You can find out more about Pupil Premium on GOV.UK.

Last updated: 29 July 2026
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