Free School Meals

A child may be eligible to receive Free School Meals (FSM) if a Parent or Carer are in receipt of benefits or they are an asylum seeker. If you are unsure if your child is eligible, please contact the school office via email:  admin@henryfawcett.lambeth.sch.uk

Eligibility Criteria

A child may be eligible for free school meals (FSM) if their parents receive any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related 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 - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Pupils eligible for FSM will remain eligible until they finish the phase of education (i.e. primary or secondary) they’re in on 31 March 2023.

Nursery Children

A child may also be eligible for FSM if:

• Their parent receives any of the benefits listed above
• They are under compulsory school age, and
• They are in full-time education

Nursery-aged children can receive FSM if they attend a maintained nursery school or nursery class and they attend before and after lunch sessions.

Infant free school meals in England

All pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2 in state-funded schools are entitled to universal infant free school meals.

Tell the school if you also get any of the qualifying benefits above, the school can get extra funding if you do.

Mayor's free school meals in London

All pupils in years 3 to 6 in state-funded schools in London will get free school meals for the 2023-24 school year.