The UK government funds free school meals for children in England who are attending a primary or secondary state school, free school, or academy. Free school meals are provided for all children in reception, year 1 and year 2, and for all primary school children in certain local authority areas. When free school meals are not provided universally, they are only available to certain children. A child will qualify for free school meals when their family receives certain benefits or asylum support, or when the child's family has no recourse to public funds and they meet an income threshold. The same qualifying requirements apply to children in full-time education who are younger than the compulsory school age.
- Free School Meals (FSM) are available to households in receipt of certain benefits, or with no recourse to public funds, provided that certain income thresholds are met.
- Further Education Free meals are available to disadvantaged 16- to 18-year-old students attending further education institutions. Students aged over 19 who are continuing on the same study programme they started before they turned 19 (19+ continuers) or who have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) are eligible for a free meal where they meet the criteria. Milk must be provided free of charge to pupils eligible for free school meals. Schools may offer milk as many times as they wish; however it must be free to infant and benefits-based FSM pupils when it is offered as part of their school meal and free to benefits-based FSM pupils at all other times.
- Parents are able to apply for FSM through their schools or local authority. The department aims to make it as simple as possible for schools and local authorities to determine eligibility. To support this, an Eligibility Checking System has been provided to make the checking process as quick and straightforward as possible for schools and local authorities.
- Households subject to ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ (NRPF) are eligible to receive free meals, providing they meet certain income thresholds. NRPF is an immigration condition that restricts access to government support, including passported benefits.
- All schools have duties under the Equality Act 2010 towards individual disabled children and young people, including making reasonable adjustments to prevent them being put at a substantial disadvantage to their non-disabled peers as a result. As this relates to school food, schools are required to make reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils on roll at a school to ensure they are not put at a substantial disadvantage in relation to accessing meals where appropriate. This includes disabled pupils who are eligible for free school meals. Schools are required to make such adjustments as are reasonable to enable such pupils to access their free school meal entitlement. Schools should work with the pupil, their family and any other professionals involved, to agree the necessary support.
The latest published figures show that around 2.1 million pupils in England are registered to receive free school meals.
In Northern Ireland’s most recent school food uptake survey (2022/23 academic year), 74,961 pupils took free school meals.
In Wales, the latest published figures show 90,108 pupils are eligible for free school meals
In Scotland, the latest statistics from the School Healthy Living Survey show 230,349 pupils taking a free meal.
Schools fund benefits-related Free School Meals from core funding, at a rate set by the national funding formula at £490 per eligible pupil for the academic year 2024/25. The meal rate for benefits-related FSM is £2.58 for the upcoming academic year. The total funding allocated via the ‘FSM factor’ of the NFF is £917 million in 24-25.
Devolved to the administrative nations (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland).
- In England, schools have a duty to provide free school meals. FSM funding for schools is delivered through the national funding formula. The schools NFF distributes funding to local authorities, who then set their own formula to distribute funding among their schools.
- In Wales, the local authority where a learner goes to school provides the free school meal and assesses the eligibility.
- In Scotland, the local education authority (councils) has a duty to provide free school meals to those eligible in maintained schools.
Complete the school census - Guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) - Data on the total number of children who are free school meal eligible is collected during the spring school census.
Evaluation of the Free School Meals Pilot: impact report -
- Most pupils in the universal pilot areas took up free school meals (FSM), with around 90% of primary school pupils taking at least one school meal per week by the end of the pilot, compared to 60% in comparison areas.
- Take-up increased for both previously ineligible and already eligible pupils in the universal pilot areas.
- In the universal pilot areas, the increased take-up of school meals led to a shift in the types of food that pupils ate at lunchtime, away from foods typically associated with packed lunches towards those associated with hot meals.
- Despite the changes in lunchtime food consumption, the universal pilot had few significant impacts on the reported overall consumption of different types of food, although children in the universal pilot areas were less likely to report eating crisps at least once a day than children in comparison areas. This suggests that the reduction in crisp consumption at lunchtime did not lead children to eat crisps in the afternoon and/or evening instead.
- The universal pilot significantly improved attainment for primary school pupils at Key Stages 1 and 2, with pupils making 4-8 weeks more progress than those in comparison areas. Improvements were strongest among pupils from less affluent families and those with lower prior attainment.
Child food insecurity and Free School Meals
- School meal programmes can benefit local economies by creating increased demand for nutritious food, supporting local agriculture and strengthening local food systems. FSM provision can reduce pressure on family budgets, which may improve household food intake.
- Expanding FSM initiatives to pupils from all households receiving UC provides greater targeted support for the 20-40% of lowest income households, with PwC estimating a cost-benefit ratio of £1.38. PwC estimated that extending to universal FSM (nursery through secondary) would yield an estimated cost-benefit ratio of £1.71 in education, employment and health.
- Free School Meals (FSM) initiatives require local authorities to provide eligible pupils with nutritious meals on weekdays during term-time. While it is difficult to measure the effect of FSM on food insecurity directly, FSM can provide health, educational and economic benefits.
- In 2018, the government at the time introduced new eligibility criteria for families on Universal Credit. The free school meal (FSM) protections policy was introduced in 2018 to protect those eligible for FSM from becoming ineligible while Universal Credit (UC) was being rolled out.
- Stakeholders expressed concerns about the suitability of free meal provision for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. Clarifying guidance was issued to all schools, on their duty to make reasonable adjustments.
- No recourse to public funds (NRPF) is an immigration condition that restricts access to government support, including passported benefits. Eligibility for free school meals was permanently extended to children from all families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), subject to income thresholds.
Department for Education (England)
Education Authority Northern Ireland
Department for Education and Skills (Wales)
Scottish Government - Learning Directorate (Scotland)
SDG 1 – No poverty
- Target 1.1 - By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day
- Indicator 1.1.1 - Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line by sex, age, employment status and geographical location (urban/rural)
- Target 1.3 - Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable
- Indicator 1.3.1 - Proportion of population covered by social protection floors/systems, by sex, distinguishing children, unemployed persons, older persons, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, newborns, work-injury victims and the poor and the vulnerable
- Target 1.b - Create sound policy frameworks at the national, regional and international levels, based on pro-poor and gender-sensitive development strategies, to support accelerated investment in poverty eradication actions
- Indicator 1.b.1 - Pro-poor public social spending
SDG 2 – Zero hunger
- Target 2.1 - By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round
- Indicator 2.1.1 - Prevalence of undernourishment
- Indicator 2.1.2 - Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population, based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES)
- Target 2.2 - By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons
- Indicator 2.2.1 - Prevalence of stunting (height for age <-2 standard deviation from the median of the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards) among children under 5 years of age
- Indicator 2.2.2 - Prevalence of malnutrition (weight for height >+2 or <-2 standard deviation from the median of the WHO Child Growth Standards) among children under 5 years of age, by type (wasting and overweight).
SDG 1 – No poverty
- Target 1.1 – By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day
- Indicator 1.1.1 – Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line by sex, age, employment status and geographical location (urban/rural)
- Target 1.3 – Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable
- Indicator 1.3.1 – Proportion of population covered by social protection floors/systems, by sex, distinguishing children, unemployed persons, older persons, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, newborns, work-injury victims and the poor and the vulnerable
- Target 1.b – Create sound policy frameworks at the national, regional and international levels, based on pro-poor and gender-sensitive development strategies, to support accelerated investment in poverty eradication actions
- Indicator 1.b.1 – Pro-poor public social spending
SDG 2 – Zero hunger
- Target 2.1 – By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round
- Indicator 2.1.1 – Prevalence of undernourishment
- Indicator 2.1.2 – Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population, based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES)
- Target 2.2 – By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons
- Indicator 2.2.1 – Prevalence of stunting (height for age <-2 standard deviation from the median of the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards) among children under 5 years of age
- Indicator 2.2.2 – Prevalence of malnutrition (weight for height >+2 or <-2 standard deviation from the median of the WHO Child Growth Standards) among children under 5 years of age, by type (wasting and overweight).
The UK government funds free school meals for children in England who are attending a primary or secondary state school, free school, or academy. Free school meals are provided for all children in reception, year 1 and year 2, and for all primary school children in certain local authority areas. When free school meals are not provided universally, they are only available to certain children. A child will qualify for free school meals when their family receives certain benefits or asylum support, or when the child’s family has no recourse to public funds and they meet an income threshold. The same qualifying requirements apply to children in full-time education who are younger than the compulsory school age.
- Free School Meals (FSM) are available to households in receipt of certain benefits, or with no recourse to public funds, provided that certain income thresholds are met.
- Further Education Free meals are available to disadvantaged 16- to 18-year-old students attending further education institutions. Students aged over 19 who are continuing on the same study programme they started before they turned 19 (19+ continuers) or who have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) are eligible for a free meal where they meet the criteria. Milk must be provided free of charge to pupils eligible for free school meals. Schools may offer milk as many times as they wish; however it must be free to infant and benefits-based FSM pupils when it is offered as part of their school meal and free to benefits-based FSM pupils at all other times.
- Parents are able to apply for FSM through their schools or local authority. The department aims to make it as simple as possible for schools and local authorities to determine eligibility. To support this, an Eligibility Checking System has been provided to make the checking process as quick and straightforward as possible for schools and local authorities.
- Households subject to ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ (NRPF) are eligible to receive free meals, providing they meet certain income thresholds. NRPF is an immigration condition that restricts access to government support, including passported benefits.
- All schools have duties under the Equality Act 2010 towards individual disabled children and young people, including making reasonable adjustments to prevent them being put at a substantial disadvantage to their non-disabled peers as a result. As this relates to school food, schools are required to make reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils on roll at a school to ensure they are not put at a substantial disadvantage in relation to accessing meals where appropriate. This includes disabled pupils who are eligible for free school meals. Schools are required to make such adjustments as are reasonable to enable such pupils to access their free school meal entitlement. Schools should work with the pupil, their family and any other professionals involved, to agree the necessary support.
- In 2018, the government at the time introduced new eligibility criteria for families on Universal Credit. The free school meal (FSM) protections policy was introduced in 2018 to protect those eligible for FSM from becoming ineligible while Universal Credit (UC) was being rolled out.
- Stakeholders expressed concerns about the suitability of free meal provision for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. Clarifying guidance was issued to all schools, on their duty to make reasonable adjustments.
- No recourse to public funds (NRPF) is an immigration condition that restricts access to government support, including passported benefits. Eligibility for free school meals was permanently extended to children from all families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), subject to income thresholds.
Promotion and access to healthy diets, including through education and affordable/subsidized prices
Department for Education (England)
Education Authority Northern Ireland
Department for Education and Skills (Wales)
Scottish Government – Learning Directorate (Scotland)
Devolved to the administrative nations (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland).
- In England, schools have a duty to provide free school meals. FSM funding for schools is delivered through the national funding formula. The schools NFF distributes funding to local authorities, who then set their own formula to distribute funding among their schools.
- In Wales, the local authority where a learner goes to school provides the free school meal and assesses the eligibility.
- In Scotland, the local education authority (councils) has a duty to provide free school meals to those eligible in maintained schools.
The latest published figures show that around 2.1 million pupils in England are registered to receive free school meals.
In Northern Ireland’s most recent school food uptake survey (2022/23 academic year), 74,961 pupils took free school meals.
In Wales, the latest published figures show 90,108 pupils are eligible for free school meals
In Scotland, the latest statistics from the School Healthy Living Survey show 230,349 pupils taking a free meal.
Schools fund benefits-related Free School Meals from core funding, at a rate set by the national funding formula at £490 per eligible pupil for the academic year 2024/25. The meal rate for benefits-related FSM is £2.58 for the upcoming academic year. The total funding allocated via the ‘FSM factor’ of the NFF is £917 million in 24-25.
Complete the school census – Guidance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) – Data on the total number of children who are free school meal eligible is collected during the spring school census.