Research School Network: Free School Meals Expansion Is your school making the most of the opportunity?

The expansion of free school meals across England marks one of the most significant changes to education and family support policy in recent years. From September 2026, all children in households receiving Universal Credit have become eligible for free school meals, removing the previous earnings threshold (£7,400 a year after tax, excluding benefits) that limited access for many low-income families.

By July 2026, there were around 26% of state-funded pupils (2.2 million) known to be eligible for free school meals (FSM). The Department for Education estimated that over half a million more pupils will be eligible for free school meals now that eligibility has been expanded this academic year.

Pupils from households in receipt of Universal Credit, with annual household earnings exceeding £7,400 will be entitled to expanded FSM (meals only) and should be recorded as such on the school records.

Pupils from households with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less, will be entitled to targeted FSM and should be recorded as such on the school records. In addition to receiving free meals, pupils will attract pupil premium and other disadvantage funding for their schools. This cohort is also used for accountability purposes. Other education entitlements previously linked to FSM, such as the Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) will also continue to be based on targeted FSM.

Research consistently shows that children learn better when they are well nourished. Access to a healthy meal during the school day can improve concentration, behaviour and overall wellbeing. For teachers, it can mean fewer distractions in the classroom and better conditions for learning for all.

Government estimates suggest families could save up to £495 per child each year on school lunches. For households with two or more children, those savings could make a meaningful difference to monthly budgets.

Checklist for school leaders:

• Have you updated your systems to recorded FSM eligibility as expanded or targeted?
• Have you informed all staff of this change and what it means in terms of supporting these pupil cohorts in school?
• Are you supporting families to understand the changes and what this means for any support you offer as a school?
• Has your website been updated to reflect the changes?

Checking FSM eligibility – how effective are your communications to families?

Schools are responsible for ensuring checks are completed for their pupils, working with families and local authorities to carry out these checks. Additionally, FSM eligibility will need to be rechecked annually ahead of the October census from 2026 onwards. However, a one-off arrangement for the autumn 2026 census will allow FSM eligibility checks up to and including 2 November 2026 to be reflected in the 2027 – 2028 funding.

This presents school leaders with an opportunity this half term to maximise their eligibility checks and identify their FSM eligible cohorts. The ​‘Working with Parents to Support Children’s Learning’ Guidance Report offer us some good advice to support this. It cautions that working effectively with parents can be challenging and is likely to require sustained support. Consequently, communications must be well designed, personalised and promote positive interaction. We might also look to the work of the Behavioural Insights Team and their EAST Framework to support this:

Checklist for school leaders:

• What communication(s) have been sent to families from the school the encourage sign up for eligibility checks?
• How frequently have these been sent? Are they personalised? Have they been made accessible for all – language, reading age, preferred communication method?
• Does your communication and method for sign up meet the EAST framework?
• How might we communicate with the hardest to reach families?

How do you support FSM take up and good nutrition choices?

Being eligible for free school meals can come with a stigma, and this can lead to pupils not wanting to readily engage with the offer. Schools can explore ways to ensure that those eligible for FSM are not easily identifiable to others.

Additionally, schools have a daily budget for those eligible for FSM and so further anxiety for pupils can come from not knowing what you can eat each day that is within your budget or what has the best nutritional value. It is important for school leaders to recognise these issues for pupils and work with catering providers, staff and families to ensure that these barriers are removed and children can make the most of this opportunity.

Checklist for school leaders:

• Have you reviewed your payment systems and staff training around poverty awareness?
• Have you monitored FSM take up from those previously eligible and those newly eligible so far this term? What does this data tell you?
• Are the ​‘meal deals’, daily menus and prices clear in your dining area? Have these been communicated home too?
• What happens for those eligible for FSM on trip days, any half days and when pupils are on work experience or work placement? How is this managed sensitively and effectively by your school?

References:

Free School Meals expansion to all children on Universal Credit – Impact on individual and child poverty levels and number of children in households receiving Universal Credit – GOV.UK

Expanding free school meals: what parents need to know – The Education Hub

Free school meals: guidance for local authorities, local-authority-maintained schools, academies and free schools – GOV.UK

School meals and nutritional standards (England) – House of Commons Library

Schools, pupils and their characteristics: January 2026 – GOV.UK

Working with Parents to Support Children’s Learning | EEF

EAST Framework: four simple ways to apply behavioural insights | Nesta

Poverty Proofing® the School Day – Children North East