Free School Meals

If you think you may be eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) and you aren’t already registered, then please prioritise this and register.

Why apply for Free School Meals? 

1. Extra funding for your child - Your application will ensure the school receive extra funding called Pupil Premium.

This is paid to schools which is used to provide concessionary rates and an annual allowance for enrichment opportunities, such as school trips and musical instrument tuition (Peri lessons), extra academic support, mentoring and resources for students who have been registered for free school meals at any point in the last six years. More details about how we use Pupil Premium funding may be found in 'Our School' tab under Pupil Premium.

2. It ensures your child has access to a healthy meal helping establish good habits for life and improves their readiness to learn.
3. It is confidential and could make a real difference to your household finances, relieving extra pressure of budgeting for school meals. 

4. It might enable access to additional essential household support from the Borough.

    

Who is eligible for Free School Meals?

To qualify for free school meals, a pupil or their parents must get one or more of the following:

• Income Support
• Income based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit (if not eligible for Working Tax Credit and have a yearly household income below £16,190)
• Guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Support under part VI of the immigration and asylum Act 1999
• Universal Credit (household yearly net income must be below £7,400 after tax)

Once you have applied you will get a letter stating if your child qualifies and the council will inform the school.

 

How can I apply for Free School Meals?

Free School Meals are awarded by the local council. It is easy to apply online by following the links below:

• Ealing Council Perceval House, 14-16 Uxbridge Road, Ealing, London W5 2HL Telephone 020 8825 5566
• Hammersmith and Fulham Council Town Hall, King Street, Hammersmith, London W6 9JU Telephone 020 8748 8588
• Brent Council Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, London HA9 0FJ Telephone 020 8937 1234

• Kensington & Chelsea Council Town Hall, Hornton Street, London W8 7NX Telephone 020 7361 30001

   

How does the daily Free School Meal Allowance work?

• The daily Free School Meal allowance is £5 which is automatically added each morning to the student's school meal account. Any money left is returned directly to the Borough we receive it from.

• Students pay for school meals like everyone else using the tills in the canteen. Please note, other students are not aware that your child receives Free School Meals.

• To save money, you may wish to provide your child with drinks or a refillable water bottle they can have throughout the day.

• You can add funds to your child's school meal account using ParentPay so that they can buy extra items.

• Students can see the balance on their account at the till, and you can view by logging into ParentPay.

Important Notice:

• New Year 7 families: From September 2026 all families claiming Universal Credit will become eligible to receive free school meals so more children will receive term-time support. This will not happen automatically and families who meet the criteria must apply for free school meals via the links above.