Free School Meals
From September 2026, eligibility for free school meals has been expanded.
All children whose families receive Universal Credit are now eligible for Free School Meals, regardless of household earnings. This means that many more families may now qualify.
Types of Free School Meal Entitlement
There are now two categories of benefits-based free school meals:
Targeted Free School Meals (FSM)
This applies to pupils whose families:
- receive Universal Credit
- have household earnings of £7,400 or less, after tax and excluding benefits
Children in this category may also be eligible for additional support, including the Pupil Premium, the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme and certain forms of school travel assistance.
Expanded Free School Meals (FSM)
From September 2026, children whose families receive Universal Credit but have household earnings above £7,400 are also eligible for Free School Meals.
Children in this category receive a free school meal but do not receive the additional benefits associated with Targeted Free School Meals.
Applying for Free School Meals
Applications for Free School Meals must be made through Kent County Council (KCC).
KCC checks eligibility and processes applications. If your application is successful, KCC will notify the school directly.
If you think your child may now be eligible, we encourage you to apply even if you have not previously qualified.
Apply for Free School Meals through Kent County Council
KCC aims to process applications straight away. If your application is successful, your child should be able to receive a free school meal within 24 hours.
Do You Need to Reapply?
If your child is already registered as eligible for Free School Meals through Kent County Council, you do not need to make a new application simply because the eligibility rules have changed.
However, if your child has recently joined Bridge & Patrixbourne CEP School and their previous school used a different eligibility-checking system, you may need to make a new application through KCC.
If you are unsure whether your child is eligible, we recommend applying through KCC. They will check your circumstances and confirm whether your child qualifies.
Universal Infant Free School Meals
All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to a free school meal under the Universal Infant Free School Meals scheme, regardless of household income.
However, if you think your child may qualify for Targeted Free School Meals, it is still important to apply through KCC. This can ensure that your child is recorded as eligible for additional support such as Pupil Premium where applicable.