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Free School Meals

Universal Free School Meals - EYFS & Key Stage 1

All pupils currently in EYFS, Year 1 and Year 2 are able to receive a school meal at no cost to parent/carers. Choosing a universal free school meal will help save you up to £450 per year, encourage positive eating habits and helps to improve concentration and performance in the classroom. A school lunch will also provide a varied and balanced diet and provide the right amount of energy to ensure that your child can work better in the afternoons.

Free Meals - Key Stage 2

From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, Free School Meal (FSM) eligibility has been expanded to include all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit regardless of household earnings.

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
  • income-related employment and support allowance
  • support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • the guaranteed element of pension credit

Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.

From September 2026, there will be 2 categories of benefits-based Free School Meals:

  • Targeted FSM, which continues to be based on the existing threshold (see the guide below), covering pupils who are 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

If your child is eligible for Targeted FSM, school will receive additional funding to support your child's education called the Pupil Premium Grant.

All children who are either Targeted or Expanded FSM eligible will get a free meal at school.

Holiday activities and food programme

School-aged children and young people who qualify for benefits-related Free School Meals can access free holiday clubs during the Easter holidays; Summer holidays; Christmas holidays

Clubs provide a wide range of activities, eg: sports and games, arts and crafts, music, drama, learning about food as well as healthy meals and snacks

Find out more about the Holiday Activities and Food Programme.

Application Guide For Parents/Carers

Please click on the document below for details of the eligibility criteria for receiving Targeted Free School Meals. If you are experiencing any difficulties, please call into the school office and we will try to help you.

  1. Lincolnshire County Council Application Guidance For Parents/Carers
    PDF File
How To Claim

If you think your child might be entitled to free school meals, please see the information on the Lincolnshire County Council's website: https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/school-pupil-support/apply-free-school-meals

FREE SCHOOL MEALS  INFORMATION (LCC)

Applications should be made online at https://lcc.cloud.servelec-synergy.com/SynergyWeb/PortalHome/

FREE SCHOOL MEALS PARENT PORTAL (LCC)

If you are eligible, we will be notified. Children in receipt of free school meals also qualify for a reduction in costs for educational visits and other chargeable events, so it is always worth enquiring. Please click HERE to read more about Charging & Remission.

If you are not eligible at this time and to avoid requesting this information again, Lincolnshire County Council will store your data securely and it will be checked for eligibility should your circumstances change.

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