Could your child be eligible for free school meals?
We would like to remind families about the recent changes to Free School Meal (FSM) eligibility and encourage anyone who believes they may qualify to submit an application.
Since September 2026, all students from households receiving Universal Credit are eligible for Free School Meals, regardless of household income. Previously, eligibility was limited to households with a combined annual income of £7,400 or less.
Receiving Free School Meals can provide valuable financial support for families, with potential savings of hundreds of pounds each year on school meal costs. If your circumstances mean that you may now be eligible, we strongly encourage you to apply.
How to apply
Please note that Free School Meal entitlement is not applied automatically. Parents and carers must submit an application through their local authority.
You can apply using the links below:
- Halton:https://cyp.halton.gov.uk/Synergy/Live/SynergyWeb/FreeSchoolMeals.aspx
- Knowsley:https://parentportal.knowsley.gov.uk/web/portal/pages/parents/travel-and-free-school-meals
- Liverpool:https://liverpool.gov.uk/benefits/free-school-meals/
- St Helens:https://parentportal.sthelens.gov.uk/web/portal/pages/parents/travel-and-free-school-meals
- Warrington:https://www.warrington.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals
New: School Eligibility Check
To help families access support as quickly as possible, we are now able to carry out a quick eligibility check in school whilst your application is being processed.
If you think you may be entitled to Free School Meals, please complete your local authority application and also contact us by emailing school@wadedeacon.co.uk
To complete the check, in addition to your child’s details, we will need:
- Parent/carer's date of birth
- Parent/carer's National Insurance number
Where eligibility can be confirmed, this may allow your child to start receiving Free School Meals sooner.
If your child is already receiving Free School Meals and your circumstances have not changed, you do not need to reapply.
If you have any questions or would like further support with the application process, please do not hesitate to contact us.
