Free School Meals - reminder
Dear families
As you may be aware, there are a number of changes to Free School Meals eligibility from the start of next academic year:
- Eligibility is being expanded for all children and young people who are in households in receipt of Universal Credit.
- Transitional protection is ending at the end of July 2026 (Transactional protection has been in place since April 2018 and meant that pupils becoming eligible for free meals under the benefits-based criteria have retained their entitlement for 6 years, even if their household circumstances have changed).
If your child(ren) already receive(s) free school meals:
As a result of these changes all pupils currently in receipt of free school meals will need to reapply for Free School Meals over the summer break. Please use this link Free School Meals Checker - Check Eligibility Online | LGfL FSM to apply as well as check eligibility. Please only use this link, access via North Somerset council is not activated and will not link with our school.
It is essential that you reapply as without an approved application, you will not be able to access some of additional benefits that the school provided under the previous pupil premium system. This includes reduced cost of trips or access to a fund which you could use towards payment for a school club / school uniform.
If you have recently applied to North Somerset Council for free school meals from September 2026, then you will now need to reapply (check eligibility) using the link above.
If you want to check if your child may be eligible for free school meals:
Please use this link Free School Meals Checker - Check Eligibility Online | LGfL FSM to see if you would be eligible for free school meals from September 2026.
Free School Meals provide eligible pupils with a free school lunch during the school day.
Registering for Free School Meals may also bring additional funding into school through pupil premium.
For more information about the changes to free school meals please visit this webpage on the Lighthouse Schools Partnership website.
If you have any other questions re FSM, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.
Kind regards