Your child maybe eligible for free school meals if you are receiving one of the following benefits or support:

• From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit attending our school will be entitled to receive a free meal.

  The government have made this a legal requirement through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026.

  Going forward, there will be 2 categories of benefits-based free school meals:

• Targeted FSM, which continues to be based on the existing threshold, covering pupils in households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less
• Expanded FSM, a new category covering pupils who do not qualify for targeted FSM, but who are in households receiving Universal Credit

You are NOT entitled to free school meals if:

• You receive Working Tax Credit except where the 'four week run-on' applies as described above

An application must be made to DMBC before free school meals can be provided. Normally, the parent or guardian of the child makes the request. Please note: you will have to pay for any school meals your child receives before your application has been processed. DMBC will then notify the Academy if your child is eligible.

You can apply for free school meals up to a maximum of two months before your child starts school.

Please click on the link below for more information regarding free school meals and to apply directly through the council:

Apply for free school meals