Free School Meals

Find out where hot lunches are available and whether your child may be eligible for free school meals.

If you receive a qualifying benefit and are not already claiming Free School Meals (FSM), we strongly encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Claiming FSM also helps the school, as it allows us to access additional funding through the Pupil Premium.

Oxfordshire County Council currently provides food vouchers during school holidays for eligible families.

Who is eligible for Free School Meals?

Your child may be entitled to Free School Meals if you receive one of the following benefits:

Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit (as long as you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and your annual gross income is no more than £16,190)
Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
Universal Credit (if you apply on or after 1 April 2018, your net earned household income must be below £7,400 per year, approximately £616 per month, after tax and excluding benefits)

Please note: schools are not permitted to recognise any benefits other than those listed above.

Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM)

All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to Universal Infant Free School Meals at no cost.

If a child in Key Stage 1 meets the eligibility criteria for benefits-related Free School Meals, they will be protected under transitional protection. This means they will continue to receive Free School Meals when they move into Year 3.

Nursery Pupils

Children attending a maintained nursery (including academies) for at least one full day per week (before and after lunch) may be eligible for benefits-related Free School Meals if their parent or carer receives a qualifying benefit.

When should I apply?

You should apply as soon as you start receiving a qualifying benefit, as claims are not backdated. Eligibility is reviewed annually.

Please notify the school immediately if there are any changes to your circumstances.

How do I apply?

Please contact the school office to request an application form. You may be asked to provide supporting evidence.

If your child is not currently on roll at a school, or the school is unable to provide a meal, please contact Oxfordshire County Council for further information.

Why should I apply?

If your child is eligible or has protected status, they will receive:

A healthy, nutritious meal at school at no cost
Food vouchers during school holidays
Access to the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme

In addition, the school can claim Pupil Premium funding:

£1,345 per child in primary school
£955 per child in secondary school

This funding supports children from lower-income families, even if a child chooses not to take the meal.

Transitional Protection

Transitional Protection for Free School Meals was introduced in 2018 to ensure families did not lose entitlement during the rollout of Universal Credit.

This protection has been extended and will remain in place until the end of the 2025/26 academic year.

Any child who was eligible on or after 1 April 2018 will continue to receive Free School Meals until this time, even if household income later rises above the eligibility threshold.