Free School Meals
From September 2026 there will be two benefits-based FSM categories:
Targeted FSM
Eligible groups are:
- pupils who are in households who get Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less
- households who get support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- households who get Income-related Employment and Support Allowance or the guarantee element of Pension Credit
- households with families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)
Children on targeted FSM will attract Pupil Premium and be eligible for the Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF) and may qualify for ‘extended rights’ element of school travel assistance (subject to meeting additional eligibility rules).
Expanded FSM
This covers pupils who do not qualify for targeted FSM, but who are in households getting Universal Credit. They will only receive free school meals and no other support or funding.
If your child goes to one of the East Sussex academies listed below, contact the school to apply for free school meals.
Ark Alexandra
Ark Blacklands
Ark Castledown
Ark Little Ridge
Breakwater
Hawkes Farm
High Cliff
Hollington
Peacehaven Heights
Telscombe Cliffs
Thornton Grove
White House
Out of county schools
If your child attends a school outside of East Sussex (including Brighton & Hove), please contact the school to apply for free meals.
Eligibility rechecks
Eligibility will be checked annually. The checked result is valid for the full academic year.
Universal Infant Free School Meals
Children in reception, year 1 and year 2 are entitled to free meals regardless of the earnings or benefit status of their households. You don’t need to apply. This support is made available under the Universal Infant Free School Meal (UIFSM) programme.
However, families with infant aged children who meet the criteria for targeted FSM should apply as the school will get more funding. You could also benefit from discounted school trips and/or uniform.
Holiday food and fun
A range of activities and food is available during the main 3 school holidays at our Holiday food and fun clubs for children on targeted FSM. To find out what’s on offer, visit Holiday food and fun.
Contact the Free School Meals team
Email: free school meals queries
Phone: 0300 330 9472 (10 am to 3 pm)