Find out if your child can get free school meals, how to get extra funding for your school and how to apply.
If your child is starting school in September, do not apply until after 17 August 2026.
Your child may be able to get:
- Free school meals: free healthy meals at school
- Pupil premium: extra funding for your child's school
- Additional support: linked to pupil premium, such as help with school trips, holiday clubs and school travel support
Free school meals
You can apply for free school meals if you receive:
- Universal Credit
- the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- support as a family with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)
Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2
All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 get free school meals automatically, whatever your household income.
If you receive one of the benefits listed above, you should still apply. This could help your child's school receive extra funding through pupil premium.
Pupil premium
Pupil premium is extra funding for schools to support eligible children.
Schools often use this funding for:
- learning resources
- school trips
- extra support from staff
You can apply for pupil premium if you receive:
- Universal Credit and your household income is less than £7,400 a year (£616.67 a month) after tax
- the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- support as a family with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)
Early years pupil premium
If your child is under 5 and attends a nursery or childminder but has not started school yet, they may be able to get early years pupil premium.
The eligibility rules are the same as for pupil premium.
To apply, contact your nursery or childminder directly.
Free school meals are not currently available for children under 5 who attend a nursery or childminder.
If you have No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)
Your child may be able to get free school meals and pupil premium if your household income is:
- less than £22,700 a year if you have 1 child
- less than £26,300 a year if you have 2 or more children
If you have NRPF, contact your child's school for help with your application.
Before you apply
Some schools manage free school meals and pupil premium themselves.
If your child attends one of the academies listed below, contact the school directly to apply.
Primary schools
- Cathedral Primary School
- Headley Park Primary School
- Hotwells Primary School
- Oasis Academy Bank Leaze
- Oasis Academy Connaught
- Oasis Academy Long Cross
- Oasis Academy Marksbury Road
- Oasis Academy New Oak
- Redfield Educate Together Academy
- Sea Mills Primary
- Victoria Park Primary School
Secondary schools
- Ashton Park School
- Blaise High School
- Bristol Cathedral Choir School
- Oasis Academy Brightstowe
- Oasis Academy Brislington
- Oasis Academy Daventry
- Oasis Academy John Williams
- Oasis Academy Temple Quarter
- St Bede's Catholic College
- Trinity Academy
Apply for free school meals or pupil premium
Use the online application form to apply for:
- free school meals
- pupil premium
- both at the same time
How we check your application
Make sure all the information you provide is correct.
We automatically check:
- your name
- date of birth
- National Insurance number
If any of these details are wrong, we may not be able to confirm your eligibility.
If we can't confirm your eligibility, we'll ask you to send your most recent benefit statement or letter as evidence.
If your application is successful:
- we'll tell you and your child's school
- your child will stay eligible until the end of the current school year
- we'll check your eligibility again each year automatically
Get more help
If you're struggling to afford food there are organisations and schemes across the city that can help you get food.
To find out about school holiday vouchers, you should first contact your child's school.
Email us if you've questions about your application or need to send evidence.