URGENT Changes to Free School Meals from Sept 2610 July 2026 (by admin) |
Good morning,
You may be eligible for Free School Meals if your child is in Reception to Year 6 (from September 26) and attends full time at a local authority school.
Parents of pupils in Year Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 MUST also apply for Free School Meals even though your child is receiving FUNDED Universal Free School Meals.
We would like you to apply for Free School Meals as soon as possible if you think any of the following information apply's to you.
Changes from September 2026
From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit, attending relevant schools, will be entitled to receive a free meal.
Going forward, there will be 2 categories of benefits-based free school meals:
- Targeted Free School Meal (FSM), which continues to be based on the existing threshold, covering pupils who are in households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less
- Expanded Free School Meal (FSM), a new category covering pupils who do not qualify for targeted FSM, but who are in households receiving Universal Credit
Who is eligible for free school meals
Children and young people can apply for free school meals if they:
- attend a Kirklees school
- attend school full time
- are of statutory school age
and their parents or carers receive one or more of the following:
- Universal Credit
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Are in receipt of income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Receive the guarantee element of Pension Credit
- Meet criteria for families with no recourse to public funds
Simply click this link https://my.kirklees.gov.uk/service/Schools_and_education___Apply_for_free_school_meals for Kirklees, if you come under Leeds or Bradford please check their website.
The school will usually be contacted within 48 hours to tell us the date the entitlement to free school meals will start from.
If you do APPLY for FSM and we suggest you do!!!! - Please email office@stpatricksbirstall.co.uk to let us know.
Once we receive your email we will then chase-up your application on your behalf.
Applications can be made at anytime throughout the year.