Universal Infant Free School Meals

All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 automatically get a free school meal, but you should still register your child to receive free school meals if you are eligible.  By doing this your child’s entitlement can be checked on a regular basis so that their school can receive valuable additional funding for every child receiving a free school meal.  You can find out if your child qualifies for free school meals and apply here: https://forms.torbay.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free School Meals

Changes from September 2026

From the start of the 2026/27 school year, all children in families receiving Universal Credit will get free school meals.

Targeted and expanded free school meals

Children receive free school meals if they fall into 1 of these 2 categories:

• eligible targeted
• eligible expanded

Eligible targeted

Eligible targeted covers children in households which:

• receive Universal Credit
• have annual household earnings of £7,400 or less

These children will receive a pupil premium and other disadvantage funding for their schools.

Children who receive eligible targeted free school meals can also receive other support such as:

• holiday activities and food programme (HAF) 
• 'extended rights' of school travel assistance.

Eligible expanded

Eligible expanded covers children in households which:

• receive Universal Credit
• have annual household earnings of more than £7,400

These children will only receive free school meals.