Are you entitled to Free school Meals?
The Education Act 1996 as amended, places a duty on maintained schools, academies and free schools to provide free school meals (FSM) to pupils of all ages that meet the criteria. This includes pupils in school-based nurseries and maintained nursery schools.
From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit attending these schools will be entitled to receive a free meal.
There are 2 catergories of benefits-based free school meals:
- Targeted FSM: continues to be based on the exisiting threshold, covering pupils who are in households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earrings of £7,400 or less. Targeted FSM children will be entitled to Pupil Premium funding.
- Expanded FSM: a new category covering pupils who do not qualify for targeted FSM, but who are in households receiving Universal Credit. Expanded FSM children will attract funding for free school meals only.
If you think you may now be entitled to means tested free school meals for your children, you need to apply using this link:
https://www.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/sims-wirral
Please contact schooloffice@stalbans.wirral.sch.uk if you need any assistance with this. To apply you need:
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Your own name and date of birth
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Contact details. Includes e-mail. phone numbers and address details. It is helpful to have an e-mail and correct postcode.
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National Insurance Number or National Asylum Seekers Number
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Child's name and date of birth
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School your child is attending/will attend.
To apply click on:
https://www.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/sims-wirral
Pupil Premium Reporting
The Pupil Premium is funding provided to schools which is additional to main school funding.
It is allocated to pupils on roll who are eligible for Targeted free school meals (FSM), children of service families, and pupils who have been ‘Looked After’ (in care) for 6 months or more. It is for schools to decide how the Pupil Premium is spent, since they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for the individual pupils within their responsibility.
Schools will be held accountable for their use of the additional funding to support pupils from low-income families and the impact this has on educational attainment. School performance tables now include a ‘Narrowing the Gap’ measure showing how disadvantaged children perform in each school. Our governing body produces an annual report here
Ever 6 FSM Cohort
Pupils who are, or have been, eligible for FSM over the last 6 years are part of the 'Ever 6' FSM cohort. This is used for disadvantage funding and accountability purposes. Following the expansion of FSM, Ever 6 FSM will be based on targeted FSM.
Ending Transitional Protections
Transitional protections for free school meals have been in effect since 1 April 2018. This has meant that pupils becoming eligible for free meals under the benefits-based criteria have retained their entitlement, even if their household circumstances have changed. Transitional protections apply until the end of the 2025 to 2026 academic year. All pupils eligible for free school meals under the benefits-based criteria before the end of 2025 to 2026 academic year should continue to receive this entitlement until the end of that academic year (2025-2026). From the start of the 2026-2027 academic year, transitional protections for free school meals will end. Households must meet the new FSM eligibility criteria from the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic tear to continue receiving provision.
Rechecking Eligibility
Going forward, FSM eligibility should be monitored by schools and local authorities on an ongoing basis through annual rechecks. Rechecks should confirm that pupils in receipt of FSM continue to meet the eligibility criteria set out in this guidance, and the category of eligibility they fall under (either targeted or expanded). Checks should be completed ahead of the start of the 2026-2027 academic year. This is to allow all pupils to be ready to receive FSM from the start of the Autumn term. Pupils will not attract FSM funding if they do not ahve a valid recheck of eligibility ahead of the October census each year.
For further information please follow this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools-and-local-authorities/free-school-meals-guidance-for-local-authorities-local-authority-maintained-schools-academies-and-free-schools
