From September 2026, the criteria for Free School Meals will change nationally. Since 2018, pupils eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) have been subject transitional protection while Universal Credit was rolled out. Now that the Universal Credit system is in place, FSM will both be expanded and return to annual means testing.
There will now be two forms of FSM:
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“Targeted FSM” which continues to be based on the existing threshold, covering pupils who are in households in receipt of universal credit with an annual household income of no more than £7,400.
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“Expanded FSM” which will apply to meals only, covering pupils who do not qualify for “targeted FSM”, but who are in households in receipt of universal credit. This cohort of pupils will be eligible for meals only.
Funding referred to as FSM Ever 6, provides funding for pupils who have been eligible for FSM within the previous 6 years even if they are no longer eligible, this will only apply to those previously on Targeted FSM.
For parents that are already in receipt of FSM, Warwickshire Free School Meals will be completing the means testing and will be updating their website in July to explain the new updates. Warwickshire FSM have suggested that parents should sign up for the newsletter, so they are kept up to date with the new process.
For further information
