Free School Meals: Changes from September 2026

From September 2026, the government is expanding eligibility for Free School Meals

(FSM) to include more families receiving Universal Credit. Whether your child

chooses to take these meals or not, registering helps the school secure vital

additional funding, which is used entirely to support disadvantaged students.

 

We have invested in a simple online platform to make this process as easy as

possible. We would be very grateful if you could take two minutes to register your

details.

My child already receives free school meals—do I need to do anything?

Yes. If your child currently receives free school meals—for example, because they

are in Reception, Year 1, or Year 2 (Universal Infant Free School Meals), or through

a scheme like the London Universal FSM — it is critical that you register via the portal as these schemes do not automatically award Pupil Premium funding to the school.

What information do you need?

The process is quick and simple. You will need:

○ Your own name and date of birth

○ Contact details

○ National Insurance Number (or National Asylum Seekers Number)

○ Child's name and date of birth

○ School your child is attending/will attend.

How to apply

https://www.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/sims-greenshawlearningtrust

We would be very grateful if you could fill in your details on this Greenshaw Learning

Trust OFSM application form (unless you have already registered), even if you

believe you are not entitled to additional funding. The system re-checks details every

week, and will automatically update our records if your status changes. Please note

that an application must be completed for each child you have in our school.

 

If you would like any help with the application, you are very welcome to come into

the school office, and we would be happy to assist you.