Free school meals and pupil premium
Free School Meals applications are currently experiencing higher than usual demand, which may result in longer processing times. Please ensure all application details are completed correctly to help avoid delays.
Help with food essentials
Household Support Fund grocery vouchers are no longer available. The scheme ended in March 2026 following a central government decision. Families needing financial support can apply to the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF).
For Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme enquiries, please contact Northamptonshire Sport directly at [email protected].
Reception, year 1 and year 2
All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 are automatically entitled to free school meals under the Universal Infant Free School Meals scheme.
Contact your child's school directly to find out how to order and access the meals.
You need to apply for the pupil premium (additional school funding for disadvantaged children to improve the quality of their education) if your child's school is in West Northamptonshire. The child must reside with the applicant.
Year 3 and above
The school the child is attending will automatically get a pupil premium amount if the child is eligible for free school meals.
You can apply below for free school meals (£2.58 towards the cost of each meal) for older children in full-time education up to the age of 18 if you are in receipt of certain benefits and they attend a school in West Northamptonshire.
From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, we are expanding Free School Meals 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 (NRPF)
Targeted Free School Meals
Children from households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less (the existing threshold for Free School Meals prior to the expansion), will be eligible for targeted Free School Meals. In addition to receiving free meals, pupils eligible for targeted Free School Meals 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 Free School Meals, or have been recorded as eligible for Free School Meals in the past 6 years (referred to as Ever 6 FSM). From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, Ever 6 Free School Meals will be based on targeted Free School Meals. This cohort is also used for accountability purposes.
Other education entitlements that have previously been linked to eligibility for Free School Meals, 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 Free School Meals.
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 Free School Meals.
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 Free School Meals.
Expanded Free School Meals
Children from households in receipt of Universal Credit, with annual household earnings exceeding £7,400 will be entitled to expanded FSM (meals only).
The application outcome will be confirmed instantly and emailed to you with a reference number. We will process the application and notify your child's school within 5 working days. Pupil premium is automatically applied for at the same time.
You will then need to find out from your school how to order and access free meals.
During September and October there is a longer wait for applications to be processed.
Children in care or with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Families with children in care or with SEN need to meet the eligibility criteria above.
The government directly funds meals for children residing in local authority care homes.
Changes and support
Contact the free school meal team by email at [email protected] if:
- you stop receiving an eligible benefit
- you change your address
- you need help or support including unsuccessful or pending applications
Last updated 05 August 2026