Free school meals and extra support for your child

You could save up to £500 a year if your child gets free school meals and it will mean they get a healthy school lunch every day.

All children in primary school, from reception to Year 2 receive Universal Infant free school meals and the Mayor of London has committed to funding free school meals for all children in primary school from Reception to Year 6 until summer 2028.

Who can get free school meals

Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Universal Credit – families in receipt of Universal Credit will be eligible for free school meals under one of 2 categories.
  • Targeted 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 FSM, a new category covering pupils who do not qualify for targeted FSM, but who are in households receiving Universal Credit

If you're not on benefits your family will not be eligible.

No recourse to public funds (NRPF) parents

Since the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, some children of groups who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF) are eligible for free school meals:

• read more about free school meals for NRPF groups and find out if you are eligible

How to apply for free school meals

• you can apply online for free school meals

You do not need to reapply each year but if your child changes school, you will need to tell us.

Application for NRPF parents

Since the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, some children of groups who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF) are eligible for free school meals.

• read more about free school meals for NRPF groups and find out if you are eligible

To apply, first download the application form below and fill it out.

Then, use the link below to submit your application using the online evidence form.

Contact the school directly if your child attends one of the following academies

• St James Hatcham CE Primary School
• Haberdashers’ Hatcham Temple Grove Free School Now Hatcham Free School
• Haberdashers' Knights Temple Grove School Now Knights Primary
• Haberdashers' Hatcham Primary School
• Turnham Academy
• Tidemill Academy
• Childeric Primary School
• St George’s Church of England Primary School
• Sedgehill Academy
• Haberdashers' Hatcham College

Other support your child will get

Targeted free school meals are part of something called ‘pupil premium’. As well as providing free school meals, pupil premium provides extra funding of up to £1,550 to your child's school. The school can then use this funding to support your child’s education through extra tuition, teaching staff or after-school activities.

Questions

Ask us a question about free school meals or your application: