Parents and carers who receive certain benefits may be eligible for either Pupil Premium funding or Free School Meals.

Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children receive free school meals at no cost to you.  This is a universal entitlement for all infant aged children.  By applying for free school meals for children in these year groups, parents receiving one of the welfare benefits listed below will be eligible for Pupil Premium funding.  This is extra money for the school, provided by government, to pay for targeted support for learning.

Who is eligible for benefits-based free school meals

From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, UK government are expanding FSM eligibility to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit regardless of household earnings. Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits: 

• Universal Credit
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

A pupil is only eligible to receive a free school meal where both:

• a claim for this support has been made
• their eligibility has been verified by the school where they are enrolled or by the local authority 

Households may also be entitled to a meal if they:

• are in receipt of income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• receive the guarantee element of Pension Credit
• meet criteria set out in separate guidance for families with no recourse to public funds

There are now 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. pupils under Targeted FSM are also eligible Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF),  pupil premium and the ‘extended rights’ element of school travel assistance. 
• Expanded FSM, a new category covering pupils who do not qualify for targeted FSM, but who are in households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings exceeding £7,400 will be entitled to expanded FSM. Pupils under Expanded FSM are entitled to meals only. 

Ever 6 FSM Cohort

Pupils who are, or have been, eligible for FSM over the last 6 years are part of the ‘Ever 6’ FSM cohort. This is used for disadvantage funding and accountability purposes. Following the expansion of FSM, Ever 6 FSM will be based on targeted FSM.

If you think you may be eligible for Free School Meals, please contact your child's school or click the link below to apply.

Milton Keynes Council Free School Meals Application

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Ending transitional protections

Transitional protections for free school meals have been in effect since 1 April 2018. This has meant that pupils becoming eligible for free meals under the benefits-based criteria have retained their entitlement, even if their household circumstances have changed.

Transitional protections apply until the end of the 2025 to 2026 academic year. From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, transitional protections for free school meals will end. Households must meet the FSM eligibility criteria from the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year to continue receiving provision.

School uniform grant

Milton Keynes City Council does not have a school uniform policy. However some schools may offer support to families and parents will need to contact the school direct to find out further information.