Targeted Free School Meals are given to children and families who fall within the criteria below:
- Any family that receives Universal Credit, and with annual earnings less than £7,400 will receive a ‘targeted’ free school meal.
- Household in receipt of support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 are also eligible for ‘targeted’ free school meals.
- If you receive other benefits (such as Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or Child Tax Credit), the eligibility criteria remain the same as before.
If you register on the LGFL platform and discover you are new to ‘targeted’ entitlement, you will receive a free hoodie or sweatshirt for your child.
The school receives pupil premium funding for each of these children; this funding is then used to secure better outcomes for all children across the school.
Children from households in receipt of Universal Credit, with annual household earnings exceeding £7,400 will be entitled to ‘expanded’ free school meals; this means they will be entitled to eat a free school meal every day they attend school.
If your household receives Universal Credit, it could mean savings of up to £495 per year per child on school lunches. For families with multiple children, these savings can make a substantial difference to household budgets.
Children of families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) may also be eligible for ‘targeted’ free school meals.
Eligibility to qualify for Free School Meals for families with NRPF can be found below:
- Zambrano carers
- Families who have no recourse to public funds with a right to remain in the UK on grounds of private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights
- Families receiving support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 who are also subject to a no recourse to public funds restriction
- A subset of failed asylum seekers supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Chen carers
- Families holding a BN(O) passport
- Spousal visa holders
- Work visa holders
- Student visa holders
- Those with no immigration status
The maximum income threshold differs based on your location and the number of children that your family has. Under the permanent extension of free school meal eligibility to all NRPF groups, the annual household income thresholds for those families able to work (outside of London) are:
- £22,700 for families with 1 child
- £26,300 for families with 2 or more children
Please come to the office to get support in completing the eligibility check and see whether or not you can be supported by this scheme.
The government no longer provides funding for supermarket vouchers for any family in receipt of Free School Meals.
The number of places available on the Holiday Activities and Food Programme is increasing across Bolton. If you are in receipt of ‘targeted’ free school meals for your child, you are entitled to a free place on these programmes throughout the school holidays – this will include a daily lunch.
For more information about HAF, please click this link.
Following the changes from the government on 1st September 2026, more children are now entitled to a Free School Meal (FSM). Due to this change, all parents/carers must now reapply and register their details and their child's details on the LGFL Platform. Click the link to be directed to the correct page.