Free School Meals

Free school meals support low income families during the school term. They ensure children from such families receive a free and nutritious meal each day they are in school. This helps them to concentrate, learn and achieve without putting further financial strain on parents/carers. 

Children who qualify for free school meals
Your child may qualify if you have any of these incomes:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• The guaranteed part of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (as long as your annual gross income is £16,190 or less and you don’t get Working Tax Credit)
• Working Tax Credit run-off after you come off Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit that you applied for on, or after, 1 April 2018. As long as your household income is less than £7,400 a year after tax, not including any benefits

Children who receive these benefits themselves instead of through a parent or guardian can also qualify for free school meals. 
Your child/ward may qualify if you are an asylum seeker. 

New Applications
If your child qualifies to receive free school meals in your school during term time please complete the online application form.

If you have recently become eligible for FSM, we advise you to contact your child’s school in order to confirm eligibility.

Pupil Premium Funding
When a child receives FSM, they also automatically qualify for Pupil Premium funding which paid directly to your child’s/ward's school. This funding, £985 a year for a secondary age student, is used to support your child/ward’s education, access to trips and wider support. This makes a big difference to school and eligible students.

Further support
Anyone experiencing hardship should contact their Trafford Local Authority for advice on local support schemes for those who cannot afford food and other essential supplies.

Free school meals holiday award - Free school meals holiday award
Household support fund – Household support fund extended to March 2024 
Trafford Directory -  Trafford Directory