Free school meals

Apply for free school meals

You can apply online once you’ve read the information below.

Changes from September 2026

Free school meals are changing from 1 September 2026.

Until now, children who became eligible from April 2018 kept their free school meals. This continued even if their family’s circumstances changed. This protection will end on 31 August 2026.

From September 2026:

• there will be an annual eligibility check
• some families may become eligible who were not before
• others may need to reapply

Who can get free school meals

To be eligible, your child must attend a Wakefield school. This can be a primary or secondary school (Nursery to Year 11), or a Wakefield maintained nursery school*.

You may then qualify in one of the ways below.

Targeted free school meal

Your child will get free school meals and extra help for their school if you receive:

• Universal Credit and your household income is £7,400 a year or less
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• the guarantee element of Pension Credit
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• support as a family with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)

This is called targeted free school meals.

This also means your child’s school gets extra funding (Pupil Premium). And you may qualify for other support like the Holiday Activities and Food programme.

Expanded free school meals

Your child may  get free meals only if:

• you receive Universal Credit
• your household income is above £7,400 a year

This is called expanded free school meals

This does not include extra funding for the school.

Do you need to apply?

You do not need to apply if:

• your child already receives free school meals, and
• they attend a Wakefield school.

We will contact you if anything changes.

You should apply if:

•    you are not currently claiming, but think you may qualify

•    your financial situation has changed.

You can apply from 3 July 2026. 

*Please note that if your child attends one of the following schools, you must apply through them:

• Sandal Magna Community Academy
• St Michael’s CofE Academy
• St Helen’s CE Primary School
• Featherstone All Saints CofE Academy

Infant free school meals

Children who attend a maintained infant or primary school in reception class, year 1 or year 2 can get a free school meal regardless of income.

If you receive benefits, you should still apply. This helps your child’s school receive extra funding.

After you apply

If your application is successful, your child’s school will be told. This information is shared sensitively and confidentially.

Need help?

Further advice and guidance are available online.

GOV.UK: Pupil premium

GOV.UK: Apply for free school meals

Education Other Than at School (EOTAS)

Some children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) receive their education outside of school. This is called Education Other Than at School (EOTAS).

Your child may be able to get help with the cost of meals if:

• they are educated through EOTAS
• they qualify for targeted free school meals

If your child is eligible, we will provide supermarket vouchers to help pay for food while they are learning.

Vouchers are issued each term and are worth £2.60 per day.

You must use the vouchers for food and drink only. They cannot be used for items like alcohol or cigarettes.

You will need to keep your receipts, as the Special Educational Needs Assessment and Review team may check how the vouchers have been used.

If you think your child may be eligible, please contact the Free School Meals team. FSM@wakefield.gov.uk

Moving into post-16 education

If your child is moving on to sixth form or college, you will need to apply for free school meals through their new school or college.

Please contact them directly to find out how to apply.

School milk

Primary schools offer milk to children during the school day.

• Milk is free for children under 5
• Children aged 5 and over can get it at a reduced cost

If your child receives targeted free school meals, they may be able to get milk for free.

Schools manage the milk scheme themselves, so if you have any questions, please contact your child’s school.

Other help you can get

If your child qualifies for targeted free school meals, you may be able to get help with things like:

• school trips
• residential visits
• music lessons

Please contact your child’s school to find out what support is available.