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Free school meals — guidance for schools

Change history

Applies to
Maintained schools, academies and non-maintained special schools
Latest summarised change
16 September 2026
Summarised changes
4
Open on GOV.UK⁠ (opens in a new tab)

Summarised changes

Our guides: Pupil premium, Free school meals

  1. 16 September 2026

    The guidance includes a one-off extension for completing FSM eligibility checks for the autumn 2026 school census and adds a link to funding arrangements for school-based nurseries and maintained nursery schools.

    Who this affects: School leaders, school staff, governing bodies, local-authority-maintained schools, academies, free schools, non-maintained special schools, and local authorities.

    GOV.UK’s full note
    Updated the guidance document to add information about the one-off extension until 2 November 2026 for completing free school meals eligibility checks for the autumn 2026 school census. Added a link to the funding arrangements for school-based nurseries and maintained nursery schools.

    Updated on GOV.UK 16 September 2026 · Summary added

  2. 1 September 2026

    A template letter has been added to the guidance to assist schools in communicating changes to free school meal eligibility criteria to parents.

    Who this affects: School leaders, school staff, and governing bodies in local-authority-maintained schools, academies, free schools, and non-maintained special schools, as well as local authorities.

    GOV.UK’s full note
    Added a template letter about the change in eligibility criteria for free school meals.

    Updated on GOV.UK 1 September 2026 · Summary added

  3. 4 August 2026

    The guidance has been updated to include information regarding a new checking service for verifying free school meal eligibility.

    Who this affects: School leaders, school staff, governing bodies, local authorities, local-authority-maintained schools, academies, free schools, and non-maintained special schools.

    GOV.UK’s full note
    Updated 'Free school meals: guidance for local authorities, local-authority-maintained schools, academies and free schools' with information on a new checking service.

    Updated on GOV.UK 4 August 2026 · Summary added

  4. 30 June 2026

    A model communication template has been added to assist schools and local authorities in informing parents or carers about upcoming changes to free school meals.

    Who this affects: School leaders, school staff, governing bodies, and local authorities in maintained schools, academies, free schools, and non-maintained special schools.

    GOV.UK’s full note
    Added 'Model parent or carer communication for schools and local authorities: free school meals changes – 2026 to 2027 academic year'.

    Updated on GOV.UK 30 June 2026 · Summary added

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Summaries by AI from the GOV.UK change; check the source before acting. · Change notes are quoted from GOV.UK. · Request a correction · Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. (opens in a new tab)