What is changing?

Expanded entitlement for families on Universal Credit

From the start of academic year 2026 to 2027, all children in households receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to free school meals, regardless of earnings. Going forward, there will be two types of eligibility:

• Targeted FSM: for households in receipt of universal credit earning £7,400 or less (includes free meals and additional support such as pupil premium).

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

• Expanded FSM: for households in receipt of universal credit earning above £7,400 (free meals only)

Families with no recourse to public funds may also be eligible for Targeted FSM subject to meeting separate criteria.

 

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End of transitional protections

Since 2018, some children have continued to receive free school meals, even if their family circumstances changed during the rollout of Universal Credit. This is referred to as transitional protections.

Now that entitlement is being expanded to all families on Universal Credit, these protections will end at the end of the 2025 to 2026 academic year.

This means:

• Some children may no longer be eligible from the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year if their family does not receive Universal Credit or another qualifying benefit
• Eligibility will now be based on current benefit status

 

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What you need to do

If your child currently receives free school meals:

• Provide consent to the school to carry out the LGfL eligibility check by completing the online free school meals form on:- https://induction.gladesmore.com
   
• Or you can perform an online eligibility check yourself by visiting:- https://fsm.lgfl.net 
   
• If you do not provide us with consent, please provide proof of your benefits by either emailing this to freeschoolmeals@gladesmore.com 

If your child does not currently receive free school meals:

• You may now be eligible under the expanded criteria
• Please complete the online free school meals form found on the website here:-https://induction.gladesmore.com

Not sure?
If you are unsure whether you need to apply or if your circumstances have changed, please contact:

• The school by calling the main school office on: 0208 8000884
• Email freeschoolmeals@gladesmore.com