Free School Meals and Pupil Premium

Pupil Premium and Free School Meals 

 

Changes to Free School Meals from September 2026

From the start of the 2026/27 academic year, the Government has expanded eligibility for benefits-related Free School Meals (FSM).

All pupils from households receiving Universal Credit are now entitled to receive a free school meal, regardless of the household's earnings.

There are now two categories of benefits-related Free School Meals:

Targeted Free School Meals

Targeted FSM continues to use the existing Universal Credit earnings threshold. This generally applies where a household receives Universal Credit and has annual net earned income of £7,400 or less, although other qualifying benefits and circumstances may also provide eligibility.

Pupils who meet the Targeted FSM criteria receive a free school meal and their eligibility can also contribute to the school's Pupil Premium funding, subject to the Government's Pupil Premium eligibility rules.

Expanded Free School Meals

Expanded FSM applies to pupils from households receiving Universal Credit who do not meet the Targeted FSM criteria, including households whose earnings are above the £7,400 threshold.

These pupils are entitled to a free school meal, but Expanded FSM eligibility itself does not generate Pupil Premium funding.

It is therefore important that families continue to provide the information required to establish whether their child meets the Targeted FSM criteria, even though all Universal Credit households are now entitled to a free school meal.

What is Pupil Premium?

Pupil Premium is additional government funding provided to schools to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.

From 2026/27, eligibility for a free school meal and eligibility used for Pupil Premium purposes are no longer the same. The expansion of FSM means that some pupils will receive a free school meal without their new Expanded FSM status attracting Pupil Premium funding.

Pupil Premium continues to support eligible pupils, including those who meet the relevant Targeted FSM/FSM6 criteria and other eligible groups specified by the Department for Education.

How we use Pupil Premium

Our school uses Pupil Premium funding to help improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.

Our approach is informed by the needs of our pupils and may include high-quality teaching, targeted academic support and wider strategies designed to address barriers to attendance, engagement, wellbeing and achievement.

Pupil Premium funding is not a personal budget allocated to an individual pupil. The school determines how the funding can be used most effectively to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.

Our Pupil Premium Strategy

Schools receiving Pupil Premium funding are required to publish a Pupil Premium Strategy Statement explaining how the funding is being used and the outcomes being achieved for disadvantaged pupils. This can be found on the policies page of the website