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
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.
- City of Peterborough Academy
- Eyrescroft Primary School
- Gladstone Primary Academy
- Highlees Primary School
- Lime Academy Abbotsmede
- Lime Academy Orton
- Lime Academy Parnwell
- Lime Academy Watergall
- Newark Hill Academy
- St John Fishers Catholic High School
- Thomas Deacon Academy
- Welbourne Primary Academy
Further education colleges:
- City College Peterborough (both Brook Street and John Mansfield Centre)
- Peterborough College
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 below on their free school meals webpage.
- Arthur Mellows Village College
- Barnack CofE (Controlled) Primary School
- Bishop Creighton Academy
- Braybrook Primary Academy
- Castor CofE Primary School
- Caverstede Nursery School
- Discovery Primary Academy
- Dogsthorpe Academy
- Dogsthorpe Infant School
- Fulbridge Academy
- Gunthorpe Primary School
- Hampton College
- Hampton Gardens Secondary School
- Hampton Hargate Primary School
- Hampton Lakes Primary School
- Hampton Vale Primary Academy
- Heltwate School
- Heritage Park Primary School
- Jack Hunt School
- John Clare Primary School
- Ken Stimpson Academy
- Longthorpe Primary Academy
- Manor Drive Primary Academy
- Manor Drive Secondary Academy
- Marshfields School
- Medeshamstede Academy
- Nene Park Academy
- Nene Valley Primary School
- NeneGate
- Newborough CofE Primary School
- Northborough Primary School
- Norwood Primary School
- Nova Primary Academy
- Oakdale Primary School
- Old Fletton Primary School
- Ormiston Bushfield Academy
- Ormiston Meadows Academy
- Paston Ridings Primary School
- Peakirk-Cum-Glinton Cofe Primary Academy
- Queen Katharine Academy
- Queen's Drive Infant School
- Ravensthorpe Primary Academy
- Richard Barnes Academy
- Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School
- Saint Michael CofE Primary School
- Southfields Primary School
- St Botolph's Church of England Primary School
- St John Henry Newman Catholic VA Primary School
- St John's Church School, Spirit Federation
- St Thomas More Catholic Primary School
- Stanground Academy
- Stanground St Johns CofE Primary School
- The Beeches Primary School
- The Duke of Bedford Primary School
- Thorpe Primary Academy
- Welland Academy
- Werrington Primary School
- West Town Primary Academy
- William Law CofE Primary School
- Winyates Primary School, Spirit Federation
- Wittering 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 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.