Free school meals

If your child is in Reception, year one or year two, you will automatically be entitled for free meals under the new 'Universal Infant Free School Meals' criteria. However if you do meet the criteria listed below then you will need to submit an online claim in order for your child’s school to receive Pupil Premium funding.

Please note: We do not process claims for:

• Beacon Hill Academy
• Blanford Mere Primary School
• Blowers Green Primary School
• Fairhaven Primary School
• Greenfield Primary Academy
• Kates Hill Primary School
• Netherbrook Primary School
• Pegasus Academy
• Sledmere Primary School
• St James Academy
• The Link Academy

Please check these schools' websites to claim, or contact these schools directly.

Benefits-related Free School Meals (FSM) claims added before 1 April 2025 are protected until the eligible child leaves primary school (children in Reception to Year 6 as of 31 March 2025) or secondary school (young people in Years 7 to 13 as of 31 March 2025), even if parents/carers have a change in circumstance.

If your child is entitled to benefits-related Free School Meals (FSM) and in Year 6, your eligibility will be rechecked in readiness for them to start secondary school.

New FSM claims added from 1 April 2025 onwards are not protected. Eligibility for new FSM claims will be regularly checked. New FSM claims will be cancelled if parents/carers are not found eligible. This may mean some children in the same family will be entitled to FSM and associated benefits (e.g. Holiday Activities and Food – HAF – Programme) while others aren’t.

If you have any questions about school meals, please contact your child or children’s school. Menus, prices and arrangements vary from school to school.

Full details on free school meals can be found on GOV.UK.

Your child is entitled to receive free school meals if you receive one or more of:

• Universal Credit
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Please note that pupils are only eligible where a claim for this support has been made and their eligibility has been verified by their school or Dudley Council.

Your child may also qualify if:

• you receive income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• you receive the guaranteed element of Pension Credit you are part of a specific group with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)

Children that attend Dudley-maintained nursery classes both before and after lunchtime may also be eligible for income-related free school meals.