Important: Free School Meals (FSM) changes and actions required for 2026-2027
This article is to inform you of important upcoming changes to benefits-based Free School Meals (FSM), which will take effect from the start of the 2026-2027 academic year, and to outline the actions schools need to take to prepare.
It is very important you read all sections of this update:
Eligibility
From September 2026, there will be two categories of FSM eligibility.
Targeted FSM
- This is based on the existing eligibility threshold
- For pupils in households receiving Universal Credit with annual earnings of £7,400 or less
- All households who receive other qualifying benefits will also receive Targeted FSM. A full list of qualifying benefits is available on our webpage: www.norfolk.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals
Expanded FSM
- This is a new eligibility category
- For pupils who do not qualify for targeted FSM, but who are in households receiving Universal Credit
Ever 6 FSM will continue to be used to allocate Pupil Premium funding but will be based only on Targeted FSM.
Transitional protections will end from September 2026. Families must meet eligibility criteria at this point to continue receiving FSM.
Eligibility checking requirements
- When transitional protections were in place, following an initial check to confirm eligibility there was no need to re-check FSM entitlement
- As transitional protections have ended, schools and Local Authorities (LA) will need to monitor FSM eligibility on an ongoing basis
- For all subscribed schools, the LA FSM service will undertake this monitoring
- The eligibility monitoring conducted by the FSM service will take the form of annual rechecks each summer, and will be required to confirm:
- Continued eligibility
- Whether pupils fall under Targeted or Expanded FSM
- Pupils will not attract FSM funding unless their eligibility has been confirmed on the October census each year
- For all subscribed schools, the LA FSM service will continue to share entitlement information through the Synergy third party software Schools Access Module (SAM)
- Our provider is currently updating the SAM system to accommodate these changes, and this is currently expected to be available in July. At this point SAM will reflect whether eligibility is Targeted or Expanded. Once the new system is in place, guidance will be shared on how you can run reports to help you complete your census returns which will need to reflect the two new eligibility types.
- Please note the expanded criteria are expected to increase FSM eligibility
- Parents who are currently in receipt of benefit related FSM do not have to reapply to have their existing eligibility rechecked. During the summer holiday we will undertake a bulk recheck based on the information we already hold to recheck households against the new eligibility criteria. This rechecking will then repeat on an annual basis.
- We continue to welcome any fresh applications for children who have not yet been assessed for FSM eligibility, including from parents who believe they will be eligible in 2026/27 due to the expanded criteria. Our webpage and paper application forms (Paper application form (Word doc, 56 KB) and No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) Free School meal application form (Word doc, 50 KB)) have been updated accordingly to reflect the new eligibility guidance. As always, the easiest and quickest way for parents to apply is online, just visit our webpage and click 'Apply for free school meals'
- Any new FSM applications received from 1 June 2026 to 19 July 2026 will be assessed on the old eligibility criteria (even when made using our new forms), and eligibility for the remainder of the 2025/26 academic year will be confirmed as normal via SAM. These applications will be rechecked again by the LA during the summer holiday to understand eligibility under the new 2026/27 eligibility criteria.
- From 20 July 2026 any new applications will only be checked against the new 2026/27 eligibility criteria
- During the summer holiday all households for whom we hold information, will be rechecked against the new 2026/27 eligibility criteria
- Following the above recheck we will write to parents as normal confirming their eligibility
- The LA FSM Service share new entitlement information with schools through SAM following the bulk recheck as confirmed above
Actions for schools
To support effective planning and implementation, the DfE recommend schools:
Review the guidance
Schools should read the Free school meals: guidance for schools and local authorities - GOV.UK guidance.
Complete operational readiness activities
Please refer to the Operational readiness checklist for schools to ensure all necessary systems and processes are in place.
Plan for increased uptake
The expanded criteria are expected to increase FSM eligibility.
The DfE recommend schools estimate at an early stage the number of additional pupils likely to become eligible and in turn the increase in meals that will need to be provided.
To gain this estimate the DfE recommend schools survey families (including nursery provision) to understand:
- Whether they are in receipt of Universal Credit
- Whether pupils currently take school meals
- Whether they intend to take up FSM from September 2026
Review catering arrangements
You may need to liaise with your catering provider to ensure capacity for increased demand, including:
- Meal provision
- Staffing
- Dining arrangements
Communicate with parents and carers
We encourage schools inform families about:
- The expanded FSM entitlement and the importance of applying if you are not already in receipt of FSM as you may now be eligible. Feel free to share the additional information Understand Free school meals eligibility changes from September 2026 (PDF, 154 KB) we have provided on our webpage.
- Advise households who have No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) to re-apply every year using our NCC NRPF FSM Application form (Word doc, 50 KB) which can be found on our webpage.
- The potential benefits to both pupils and schools. This is reinforced on our website and paper NCC FSM Application form (Word doc, 56 KB).
- Reassure parents already in receipt of benefit related FSM that they do not need to re-apply and their entitlement will be checked and confirmation of entitlement sent to them before the end of the summer holiday. This confirmation will include details of how to contact us if they have any queries regarding their eligibility.
If you have any questions regarding this update, please contact us at [email protected].
