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Free school meals

You can apply for free school meals (FSM) for children who are already at school. If your child qualifies, their entitlement will continue until the end of the academic year in July 2026.

From 1 September 2026, the free school meals scheme will change. There will be 3 types of free school meals:

• universal infant free school meals
• targeted free school meals
• expanded free school meals

The information on this page explains the scheme that starts on 1 September 2026.

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Contents

• Who can get free school meals
• Qualification criteria
• Apply for free school meals
• When free school meals start
• Pupil premium
• Families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)
• Appeals
• Moving to Cheshire East
• Children attending schools outside Cheshire East

Who can get free school meals

Children who attend a state-funded school may be eligible for free school meals if their parent or carer receives a qualifying benefit.

Nursery-age children may also be eligible if they attend a school-based nursery or maintained nursery school. Children who attend part time must attend both before and after lunch.

If your child attends an independent or private school, private nursery or further education college, they are not eligible for free school meals.

Qualification criteria

Universal infant free school meals

Children in reception, Year 1 and Year 2 automatically receive universal infant free school meals. You do not need to apply.

Targeted free school meals

Your child may be entitled to targeted free school meals if you receive one or more of the following:

• Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• the guarantee element of Pension Credit
• support through the no recourse to public funds (NRPF) scheme

Other support for children, such as the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme and extra help with school travel, will be based on targeted free school meal eligibility.

Schools also receive additional funding, known as pupil premium, for children who qualify for targeted free school meals.

You must apply to receive targeted free school meals.

Expanded free school meals

Your child may be entitled to expanded free school meals if you receive Universal Credit and your annual household income is more than £7,400.

Children who qualify for expanded free school meals are not eligible for pupil premium.

You must apply to receive expanded free school meals.

Apply for free school meals

Apply through the Parent Portal. You will need to register for an account if you do not already have one.

Apply for free school meals on the parent portal  

When free school meals start

Free school meals will start from the date we confirm your eligibility.

We cannot cover unpaid meal charges from before your application was approved or refund meals you have already paid for.

Pupil premium

Pupil premium is additional funding that schools receive for children who qualify for targeted free school meals.

If your child is in reception, Year 1 or Year 2, they will already receive universal infant free school meals. However, you should still apply for targeted free school meals if you meet the eligibility criteria. This may help your child's school receive additional funding.

Schools can use pupil premium funding to support children's learning and development. Contact your school if you want to know how this is spent.

Find out more about pupil premium funding on GOV.UK.

Families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)

You may be able to get free school meals if your family has no recourse to public funds.

To qualify, your household income must be below the relevant threshold and you must meet the Government's eligibility criteria.

Find out more about eligibility for families with no recourse to public funds on GOV.UK.

If you think you qualify, email freeschoolmeals@cheshireeast.gov.uk and we will send you an application form.

Appeals

Cheshire East Council cannot consider appeals about free school meal eligibility criteria.

The Government sets the eligibility criteria for free school meals. If you disagree with the criteria, contact your Member of Parliament.

Moving to Cheshire East

If your child currently receives free school meals and moves to a Cheshire East school, their entitlement may continue if they remain eligible.

You must submit a new application through the Cheshire East Parent Portal.

If your application shows that your child is not eligible, contact us. We can check the details with your child's previous school and transfer the entitlement where appropriate.

Children attending schools outside Cheshire East

If you live in Cheshire East but your child attends school in another area, you must apply through the council where the school is located.

Visit GOV.UK to find the correct council.

Contact us