More children will get free school meals this school year. Here's what you need to know

All children in England in families in receipt of universal credit will be able to get free school meals now that the new school year has started.

That’s because the government has expanded the scheme to help more families struggling with the cost of living.

Yet more than half (55%) of parents whose children will be newly eligible for free lunches are unaware they qualify, recent research from the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) found.

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The vast majority (80%) of parents surveyed by CPAG said that they have struggled with the costs of school meals or packed lunches.

Around 60% of parents have been spending £15 or more per child each week on food for the school day, with nearly one in five (17%) spending over £30 per week.

It’s so important that struggling families are able to start saving money via this scheme, yet many parents are unaware that their children are even eligible for free school meals.

Here’s everything you need to know about the expansion, including how to apply if you think your child might be eligible.

Who is eligible for free school meals in 2026-2027?

The government has expanded free school meals so that all children in families on universal credit in England will be eligible, regardless of household earnings.

Announcing the expansion, former prime minister Keir Starmer said: “Working parents across the country are working tirelessly to provide for their families but are being held back by cost of living pressures. 

“My government is taking action to ease those pressures. Feeding more children every day, for free, is one of the biggest interventions we can make to put more money in parents’ pockets, tackle the stain of poverty, and set children up to learn.”

Households may also be entitled if they are in receipt of income-related employment and support allowance, the guarantee element of pension credit, or they get support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

If your child is not eligible based on your income, they may still get free meals if they are under a certain age.

All children in Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 in state schools in England receive universal free school meals regardless of income.

In Scotland, all pupils in Primary 1 to Primary 5 and all children attending council-run special education schools get universal free school meals.

In Wales, all children in primary school get universal free school meals.

There is no universal free school meal provision in Northern Ireland. Children can get free school meals in Northern Ireland if their families are receipt of universal credit, but net household earnings cannot exceed £15,900 a year.

Other eligible benefits in Northern Ireland are income-related employment and support allowance and the guarantee element of pension credit.

Asylum seekers supported by the Home Office Asylum Support Assessment Team and children with special educational needs who require a special diet may also be eligible.

How to apply for free school meals

Free school meals are not given to children automatically. Families have to apply.

There’s a different process to applying for free school meals depending on where you live. Often you can apply through your local authority’s website.

You can find out more about how to apply if you live in England through the government’s website here, which will link you to your council’s website. Find out more information on how to apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

If you’re not sure what support you might be eligible for, contact your council. You can also contact Citizens Advice or speak to your school if you need extra financial support as they can often refer you for further help.

What else is the government doing to help families struggling with school costs?

The expansion of free school meals comes alongside other policies aimed at reducing school costs for struggling families. 

These include a new school uniform law that places legal limits on the number of branded uniform items a child is required to have, meaning parents can stock up on cheaper, non-branded basics.

This is along with the rollout of 1,400 more free school breakfast clubs, plus access to 30 hours of government-funded childcare per week, which combined give parents approximately £9,000 worth of annual savings.

There will also reportedly be changes to the actual content of the meals that schools provide. The government is currently consulting on plans to reduce the amount of deep fried, sugary and salty foods, as well as increasing fibre, with results of the consultation are expected to be announced by the end of the month.

Additionally, Sainsbury’s announced their Modern Work Experience Programme, in partnership with Burnham’s government. This will target communities with a high proportion of children on free school meals and aim to provide 10,000 work experience opportunities over the next year. 

Burnham said: “It’s great to see Sainsbury’s stepping up with 10,000 opportunities to help young people build confidence, gain experience and get a foot in the door.”

The scheme will begin in October 2026.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. 

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