Free school meals

We’ve made it even easier for eligible families to get free school meals — helping your child eat well at school, giving your family extra support, and boosting funding for their school.

If your child qualifies, they’ll enjoy healthy, tasty meals every day at school and you could get extra help during the holidays. Many families in Central Bedfordshire already use this support — it’s a positive way to help with household costs and support your child’s education.

On this page you’ll find information about:

Auto-enrolment from September 2025

From September 2025, children who qualify for free school meals will have their application processed automatically. We do this using information we already hold, such as Council Tax Support and Housing Benefit.

If we believe your child is likely to be eligible, we will:

1. write to you to explain that we think your child may qualify
2. assess your application automatically unless you tell us not to
3. let you and your child’s school know the outcome

If you are happy for us to proceed, you do not need to reply to our letter. We will complete our checks, register your child if they qualify, and let you know.

If you prefer not to be assessed, you can opt out online. If you opt out, your child will not get free school meals or other benefits.

Opt out of this registration

Benefits of getting free school meals

If your child gets benefit-related free school meals, they can:

• enjoy a healthy, tasty lunch at school every day
• take part in free activities and events during the school holidays*
• get supermarket vouchers during school holidays*

* we’ll contact you with details if your child receives free school meals

Registering your entitlement also helps your child’s school get extra funding, known as the pupil premium. Schools use this money to support learning and development — for example by providing extra teaching, targeted programmes or wider opportunities.

Your child’s school will benefit from this funding even if your child does not take the meal, or if they are in reception, year 1 or year 2 and already get universal free school meals. By registering, you’re helping your child, their school and the wider school community — this funding benefits everyone.

Who can get free school meals

• Universal Credit (if your annual net earned income is £7,400 or less, as assessed over up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part IV of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (if you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and your annual gross income is £16,190 or less)
• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

When free school meals start

In most cases we can confirm your entitlement straight away. As soon as we confirm you qualify, we will tell your child’s school and your child can get free school meals from the date you apply or the date we complete our checks.

You only need to apply once. Your child’s free school meals will usually continue as long as they stay at the same school. We will contact you if your entitlement changes.

Universal free school meals

If your child is in reception, year 1 or year 2, they will get universal free school meals automatically. You do not need to apply. We will still use your information to enrol your child for free school meals unless you opt out, so that your child’s school can receive extra funding.

Students in further education and sixth form

If your child is aged 16 to 18 and attends a further education or sixth form college, please contact the college for information about free school meals. If your child attends a school sixth form, please contact us to apply.

Tell us about changes

• you no longer want free school meals
• a new partner joins your household
• you move house
• your child changes their name or school
• you change your name
• another child in your family starts school
• your child goes into care
• your child moves between parents or guardians

Transitional protection from income changes

From April 2018, the government introduced “transitional protection” for free school meals. This means that if you no longer meet the income criteria, your child can usually continue to receive free school meals until the rollout of Universal Credit is complete. The government has announced that transitional protection will continue until September 2026.

Contact us

Call 0300 300 8000 or email revsandbensfsm@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk if you:

• want to report a change
• think you may qualify but have not heard from us
• have a question about your application