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Free school meals

If you receive benefits or have a low income, your child may be eligible for free school meals.

Children in reception, school year 1 and 2

Your child will get free school meals if they’re in a government-funded school and in:

  • reception
  • year 1
  • year 2

You do not need to make an application, but you should still apply if you would qualify under the year 3 and above criteria.

Children in school year 3 and above

Children may be eligible for free school meals if their parents or carers receive any of the following benefits:

  • Child Tax Credit with an annual income of less than £16,190
  • income based Employment and Support Allowance
  • income based Job Seeker’s Allowance
  • income support
  • support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
  • the guaranteed element of the State Pension Credit
  • Universal Credit with an annual income of less than £7,400
  • Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

You may also be eligible if you have no recourse to public funds (NRPF).

Children in nursery

Children aged 2,3 or 4 may be eligible for free school meals if their parents or carers receive any qualifying benefits. The qualifying benefits are the same as for children in school year 3 and above. The child will need to attend a school based nursery in both the morning and afternoon.

Private nurseries are not eligible for free school meals.

Eligible school based nurseries

Academies

  • Beechwood Primary School and Nursery Unit
  • Eggbuckland Vale Primary School and Nursery Unit
  • Elburton Primary School and Nursery Unit
  • Ernesettle Community School and Nursery Unit
  • Ford Primary School and Nursery Unit
  • High Street Primary School and Nursery Unit
  • Knowle primary School
  • Leigham Primary School and Nursery Unit
  • Marine Academy Nursery
  • Mayflower Community School and Nursery Unit
  • Millbay Academy (Plymouth School of  Creative Arts)
  • Morley Meadow Primary
  • Morice Town Primary School and Nursery Unit
  • Mount Street Primary School and Nursery Unit
  • Mount Wise Community Primary School & Nursery Unit
  • Oreston Community Academy Nursery
  • Plaistow Hill Infant School and Nursery Unit
  • Pomphlett Primary School
  • Shakespeare Primary School and Nusery Unit
  • St Edward's
  • St Mathews academy & Nursery Unit Mini Matts
  • Victoria Road
  • Weston Mill Primary and Nursery Unit
  • Widewell Primary Academy
  • Woodfield Primary School & Nursery Unit

Community schools

  • High View School
  • Mary Dean's CoE Primary School and Nursery Unit
  • Riverside Community Primary School and Nursery Unit
  • St Peter's CofE Primary School and Nursery Unit

How to apply

If your child attends Plymstock School or Coombe Dean School, you will need to apply through Devon County Council.

You can apply through the Plymouth Citizen Portal:

After you apply, the school will confirm to us that your child is in attendance. We check eligibility and will email the results to you and your child’s school.

If you have any issues applying using the Citizen Portal, you can apply through our old form:

Email: fsm@plymouth.gov.uk
Call: 01752 307410