Pupil Premium
Changes to Free School Meals from September 2026
From September 2026, the government is expanding eligibility for Free School Meals (FSM).
All children in households receiving Universal Credit will now be entitled to free school meals, regardless of income level. This means more families will qualify for support.
From September 2026 there are two types of eligibility for free school meals.
1. Targeted Free School Meals
For families who get:
· Universal Credit with household earnings of £7,400 or less per year.
· Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
· Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
· Guarantee element of Pension Credit.
Families who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF) may also be eligible. If your family has NRPF status, please contact the school office to find out more.
Families eligible for targeted free school meals may get additional benefits, including extra funding for schools to support your child’s education.
2. Expanded Free School Meals
For families who get:
· Universal Credit with household earnings above £7,400 per year.
End of Transitional Protection
Temporary protections that allowed children to continue to receive free school meals without rechecking eligibility will end in July 2026.
From September 2026 all families will need to meet the updated eligibility criteria. You don’t need to do anything as we will automatically recheck your eligibility. We will let you know if anything changes.
Universal Infant Free School Meals
· All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 will receive a free school meal.
· If you claim Universal Credit or other eligible benefits, it is very important you apply for a free school meal. If you don’t make an application, we will not receive the correct funding for your child’s meal.
How to Apply Apply here: https://apply.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/sims-trafford
If you need help completing your application, please contact the school office.
Pupil Premium and Free School Meals
If your child is eligible for ‘Free School Meals’ and you register them for this, we’ll receive extra funding called ‘pupil premium’. We use this extra money to improve the educational provision and resources at the school.
What is Pupil Premium Funding?
Pupil premium funding from the government is given to schools to help pupils reach their full potential, regardless of their background or financial situation. It’s provided for pupils who:
- Are registered for free school meals
- Have been registered for free school meals at any point in the past 6 years
- Are, or have been, in care
- Have parents in the armed forces
At Cloverlea, we get an extra £1,455 for every eligible pupil who is registered for free school meals. This extra money could make a real difference to the quality of education we offer.
For example, we’ve previously used pupil premium funding for:
- Educational provision/resources
- Academic interventions
- Wellbeing and self-esteem building interventions
Is My Child Eligible for Free School Meals?
Your child might be eligible if you access:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on
- Universal Credit, provided you have an annual net earned income not exceeding £7,400 (£616.67 per month)
Universal Infant Free School Meals
Currently, pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2 are entitled to a free school meal thanks to a different government funding scheme known as universal infant free school meals (UIFSM). You shouldn’t confuse UIFSM with free school meals and the pupil premium.
If your child is in reception, year 1 or year 2 and is eligible for free school meals according to the criteria above, you should still register because we’ll receive the extra pupil premium funding.
Does My Child Have to Eat the Free School Meals?
No. Pupils who are registered for free school meals don’t have to eat them. If you’re eligible but you want your child to have a packed lunch you should still register because the school will receive the funding which can support your child in other ways.
How Do I register?
In order to make the process easier, the school uses an Online Free School Meal Checker. The system allows for you to check your FSM eligibility online, without having to complete a paper copy. The link to the online applications system can be found at: https://www.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/sims-trafford
If you have any problems completing the application or would like school to complete the application on your behalf, please complete the attached registration form and return it to the school office.
If you have any questions or specific concerns, please contact the school office on 0161 980 8338