Apply for Free School Meals
Eligibility
Reception class, Year 1, and Year 2
All children starting school in the reception class, Year 1, or Year 2 will be entitled to free meals 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 may 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 Targeted Free School Meals. Schools use this money for activities such as art therapy, booster classes, educational trips, and after school clubs.
Children eligible for Expanded Free School Meals will be entitled to only free school meals.
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 :
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