Free School Meals Application

Free School Meals Application:

From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, the Government are expanding FSM eligibility to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit regardless of household earnings. Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits: 

• Universal Credit
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

A pupil is only eligible to receive a free school meal where both:

• a claim for this support has been made
• their eligibility has been verified by the school where they are enrolled or by the local authority 

Households may also be entitled to a meal if they:

• are in receipt of income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• receive the guarantee element of Pension Credit
• meet criteria set out in separate guidance for families with no recourse to public funds

 

Targeted FSM

Children from households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less (the existing threshold for FSM prior to the expansion), will be eligible for targeted FSM. In addition to receiving free meals, pupils eligible for targeted FSM will attract pupil premium and other disadvantage funding for their schools. 

Pupil premium and other disadvantage funding is currently allocated in respect of pupils who are recorded in school census returns as eligible for FSM, or have been recorded as eligible for FSM in the past 6 years (referred to as Ever 6 FSM). From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, Ever 6 FSM will be based on targeted FSM. This cohort is also used for accountability purposes.

Other education entitlements previously linked to eligibility for FSM, such as the Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF) and the ‘extended rights’ element of school travel assistance, will also continue to be based on targeted FSM. 

Households qualifying for free meals because they are in receipt of support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 will also be eligible for targeted FSM.

Households in receipt of Income-related Employment and Support Allowance or the guarantee element of Pension Credit or households with families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) may also be eligible for targeted FSM.

 

Expanded FSM

Children from households in receipt of Universal Credit, with annual household earnings exceeding £7,400 will be entitled to expanded FSM (meals only).

 

Transitional protections

Transitional protections for free school meals are in effect until the end of the 2025 to 2026 academic year This policy prevents loss of FSM entitlement for households whose circumstances change. It works in the following way.

Since 1 April 2018, all existing free school meals claimants have continued to receive free school meals while Universal Credit is rolled out. This applies regardless of any change in household circumstances, including if their earnings rise above the threshold during that time. Protections remain in place until the end of the 2025 to 2026 academic year.

All transitional protections for free school meals will end alongside the new entitlement applying to all households in receipt of Universal Credit. Pupils must meet the eligibility criteria for free meals to continue receiving this provision. Eligibility for free meals should be kept under regular review through annual rechecks. This guidance clarifies how DfE expects this process to run.

Pupils who stop being eligible for FSM when transitional protections end will still receive disadvantage funding through the pupil premium and the National Funding Formula (NFF), since they will still form part of the Ever 6 FSM cohort.

 

For more information please visit the dedicated Wokingham web page: Free school meals

To make an application please email a copy of the application form to pupilsupport@waingels.wokingham.sch.uk or return to reception.

Students receiving free school meals get a daily allowance to enable them to purchase a meal. This allowance does not carry over to the following day and is only available to use at lunch time. 

Please look at the canteen page on our website here to see our menu. We recommend the meal deal as the best value. It includes a hot meal and a tray bake cake. Breakfast is also served from 8am to 8.30am, which includes free porridge with a range of toppings.

 

---

Wokingham Holiday, Activity and Food Programme

If your child is in receipt of benefit related free school meals (FSM) and attends school within the Wokingham Borough, they are eligible for a voucher to book free sessions on the Holiday, Activities, and Food (HAF) Programme.

This programme is funded by the Department for Education (DfE) and provides free activities with a healthy meal to children and young people in school years from Reception to Year 11 who are in receipt of benefit-related free school meals (or who have been referred by a professional who works with their family) during the main school holidays of Easter, Summer and Christmas. 

For more information including how to book please go to https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/children-families-and-young-people/children-and-families/holiday-activities-and-food-programme/holiday-activities-and-food-programme

---

Other support that is available:

Woodley Foodbank – this operates from Emmanuel Church, Southlake Crescent. You can contact them using either info@woodleyfoodbank.org or on 07806658995

Waingels Support & Enquiries- pupilsupport@waingels.wokingham.sch.uk 

First Days - First Days reduces the long term effect of poverty on children by equipping them with the essential items they need for their early years and at school. You can contact them here or on 01189 219 338.

Woodley Lunch Bunch – Supports with lunches in the school holidays. You can contact them here.

Wokingham Borough Council Holiday, activities and food programme – Provide a range of support in the school holidays. For full details, including how to book a place, see the website.

Wokingham Citizens’ Advice - We want to ensure that no-one feels left behind – no matter what you’re facing – our team are here to help you access the support available. This could include our advice and information on welfare benefits, debt, housing, employment law amongst other areas, or helping you to access services from other charities and services in the Borough to meet your needs.

Anderson Baptist Church- Tuesday 10am – 12pm, 6-8 Amherst Road, Earley, Reading,Berkshire.UK. RG6 1NU  0118 376 1079

Woodley Baptist Church- Everyday 9am -12.30pm Hurricane Way, Woodley, Reading RG5 4UX 0118 969 9956

Share Wokingham [Poster Below]- Click here for website