Eligibility

Reception class, Year 1, and Year 2

All children starting school in the reception class, Year 1, or Year 2 will get a free meal at school regardless of income. 

However, even if your child is in one of these year groups we still need you to apply for free meals if you are receiving benefits. This will allow your school to claim important extra funding that will benefit your child.

Schools get extra funding, known as the ‘Pupil Premium’, for every child registered as eligible for a free school meal if their parents are receiving benefits. Schools use this money for activities such as art therapy, booster classes, educational trips, and after school clubs.

School nursery, junior classes in Years 3 to 6, and secondary school

Parents of children attending school nursery, junior classes in Years 3 to 6, or at secondary school in Kent will have to pay for school meals, unless they are receiving benefits.

To qualify, your child must be in school and you must be receiving one of the following benefits:

• Income support
• Income based Job Seekers Allowance
• Income related Employment and Support Allowance
• NASS support
• Guarantee element of State Pension
• Child Tax Credit, provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190
• Working Tax Credit for the four weeks after employment ends
• Universal Credit, provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400

A child over 16 getting any of these benefits is also eligible to receive free school meals.

Asylum seekers

Asylum seekers can apply for free school meals if they have a NASS number.

How to apply

Use the link below to apply and confirm your child's eligibility for free school meals.

You only need to apply once for each child. If you are not eligible now we ask you to continue to check your details for future entitlement against information held by the Department for Education.

https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/free-school-meals