Free school meals

You shouldn't have to worry about your child getting the nourishment they need to grow strong and healthy. Free school meals offer a varied menu to cater for all tastes and use quality ingredients from local suppliers.

Did you know:

• you can claim free school meals if you receive Child Benefit and any of the benefits mentioned below
• your child's school may get extra funding if you apply
• it could save you around £500 a year
• meals can be provided either at your child's school, in takeaway format or by voucher (please check with the school)

It's quick and easy to apply - you can do this online or over the phone.

• in most cases you do not need to provide any evidence, however, if we do need any, we will contact you
• no one will know your child is getting free school meals on the basis of your income
• your children may get access to free holiday activities and food with our Brighten the Day - holiday activities and food programme

Changes to Free School Meals eligibility from September 2026

The government has recently announced further changes to the eligibility criteria for free school meals which will be introduced from September 2026.

Until August 2026:

• if your child has been eligible for free school meals at any time between April 2018 and August 2026, they will continue to receive free school meals until the end of the 2025/2026 academic school year
• you do not need to reapply, even if your household income or circumstances have changed
• transitional protection* will stay in place until the end of the 2025/2026 academic school year

From September 2026:

• from the start of the 2026/2027 academic school year, all children in households receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to receive free school meals. If you aren't in receipt of Free School Meals, you will need to apply for free school meals so we can check if you are eligible
• the current £7,400 income threshold will be removed
• transitional protection* will end
• schools and local authorities will check eligibility once a year, to avoid any sudden changes for families during the school year

Targeted and enhanced Free School Meal Groups

With the changes to the Free School Meals eligibility criteria, the Government have created two distinct groups of Free School Meal families.

• Enhanced Free School Meals group: Families who qualify for Free School Meals as they are in receipt of Universal Credit but have a family income of over £7,400. This group will receive Free School Meals but will not be entitled to funded Holiday Activities and Food Programme places, and their schools will not receive additional Pupil Premium funding.
• Targeted Free School Meals group: Families who qualify for Free School Meals as they are in receipt of Universal Credit and have a family income below £7,400. This group will receive Free School Meals and will be entitled to funded holiday activities and food with our Brighten the Day - holiday activities and food programme and their schools will receive additional Pupil Premium funding.

Eligibility: who qualifies for free school meals 

Your child will qualify for free school meals if you meet all the following criteria:

• you or your partner receive Child Benefit (for the child you are applying for)
• the child is in full-time education, under 19 years of age
• the child attends a local authority school or sixth form (but not a sixth-form college). If your child attends nursery, attendance must be full time and your child must attend before and after lunch in a nursery run by Gateshead Council

In addition, you and your partner must receive one of the following benefits:

• Guarantee Pension Credit
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (see section 'Families with no recourse to public funds' for information)
• Universal Credit 

Receipt of one of the above benefits will be checked with the relevant government departments (HMRC, DWP and Home Office) - this may be done via the Eligibility Checking Service. By signing the declaration on the application form, you are giving your consent for us to check your eligibility through this service.

Apply for free school meals 

If you have claimed housing benefit and/or council tax support we will automatically assess eligibility to free school meals. Once eligibility is confirmed and free school meals awarded, we will notify yourself and your child(ren)'s school.

Or you can apply by telephone or online for free school meals on the basis of your income if you meet the eligibility criteria above. If your application is successful, the school(s) that your child(ren) attend will be informed. Additional funding for the school will be award where your child(ren) are awarded Targeted funding Free School Meals.

If you are applying for free school meals for your child starting Reception in September - do not apply until after the summer term finishes in July.

If your child attends a Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust (BWCET) school, you will need to contact the school direct to apply for free school meals. We do not administer free school meals for any BWCET schools from 1 April 2026.

Gateshead Council does not administer free school meals for Heworth Grange School or St Aidan's school either. If your child(ren) attends one of these schools please contact the school direct to apply for free school meals.

Apply for free school meals

Any data collected as part of this application will be treated in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and used in accordance with the council's data use principles.

Further details can be found at www.gateshead.gov.uk/data-protection.

Families with no recourse to public funds

The government has extended free school meal eligibility to include some families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) who receive support under Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 part VI. Families who may be eligible include (but are not limited to):

• Zambrano carers
• families with the right to remain in the UK under Article 8 of the ECHR
• families receiving support under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• families receiving support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 and subject to a NRPF condition
• Chen carers
• families holding a BNO passport
• spousal visa holders
• work visa holders
• student visa holders
• families with no immigration status

To be eligible for free school meals, your family's annual household income must be no higher than the following:

• £22,700 for families outside of London with one child
• £26,300 for families outside of London with two or more children

This includes any wider income or support you may be receiving in addition to any earnings from employment.

You must also have less than £16,000 in savings, including any shares, investments and bank accounts, but not including your home.

If you fall into one of these groups you will need to provide the evidence you have received from the Home Office.

Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM)

The government has made provisions so that every child who attends school in key stage 1 (reception, year 1 and year 2) will be given a school meal regardless of their circumstances. However, when your child starts in year 3 you will need to apply for the means-tested scheme as detailed above in the 'Who qualifies for free school meals' section. If you do not, you will be charged for the meals by the school.

Even if your child is in key stage 1, if you receive any of the benefits listed above, you should also apply under the means-tested scheme so that the school can receive the extra funding detailed below.

Extra funding for your child's school

For every valid application for Targeted Free School Meals, not only will your child receive a healthy, nutritious meal, but your school can claim additional funding called pupil premium.

The amounts the school can claim are as follows:

The school can claim this funding each year for six years, which can really help to provide the best environment to support your child's learning and development.

If you qualify, the school or schools that your child or children attend will be informed and means-tested free school meals will be available immediately. 

Change in circumstances

You do not need to tell us if your circumstances change unless:

• your child changes school, changes address or you move out of the area
• you have moved into the area
• you stop being responsible for the child or children concerned
• you no longer give us consent to use the information provided or no longer wish your child to receive a free school meal

You can report any changes by phone 0191 433 3729 or email: [email protected]

If there is a change to your child or children's eligibility for free school meals, we will automatically notify the relevant school.

*Transitionally protected free school meals have been in effect since 1 April 2018. This has meant that pupils becoming eligible for free school meals on or after 1 April 2018 have retained their entitlement, even if their household circumstances have changed.Transitional protections apply until the end of the 2025/2026 academic year. All pupils eligible for free school meals before the end of the 2025/2026 academic year should continue to receive this entitlement until the end of that academic year.