Thousands of additional children are set to benefit from receiving free school meals to ensure they do not miss out on essential support. Families residing in Devon County Council and Torbay Council regions will now automatically qualify for free school meals without the need to apply, benefiting around 1,300 eligible pupils who were previously not receiving this assistance. Cornwall Council is also planning to implement automatic enrollment for free school meals starting in September 2026, benefiting an additional 1,800 children.
Eligibility for free school meals varies depending on the region in the UK, the child’s age, and the household’s benefits claims. Children in England receive free school meals in reception class, year 1, and year 2. For families claiming Universal Credit, the current threshold is an annual income below £7,400 after tax and excluding benefits. However, starting from the 2026/27 academic year, all children from families claiming Universal Credit will automatically receive free school meals regardless of income.
The Department for Education will provide detailed guidelines before September 2026. In London, primary school children receive free school meals until the age of 11. In Scotland, children from primary one to primary five receive free school meals, while in Wales, all primary school pupils are entitled to them. In Northern Ireland, parents must apply for free school meals if they are claiming benefits, as it is not granted automatically. Children attending private schools typically do not qualify for free school meals.
If a child does not meet the automatic eligibility criteria mentioned, parents may still be able to apply if they claim certain benefits until the child turns 18. Other forms of assistance, such as grants for school uniform and trips, may also be available to those receiving free school meals.