Free School Meals

Free school meals: check if your child can get support 

From the start of 2026-27, there will be 2 categories of benefit-based free school meals:

• Targeted FSM, which continues to be based on the existing threshold, covering pupils who are in households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less

• Expanded FSM, a new category covering pupils who do not qualify for targeted FSM, but who are in households receiving Universal Credit

This means that any child from a family receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to free school meals.

 

If you believe you are eligible, you can apply for Free School meals using the following link - https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/free-school-meals/apply-for-free-school-meals 

 

If you are moving to The Sittingbourne School from out of the county and your new eligibility was confirmed by your child’s previous school, a new application will need to be completed. 

 

If your child is starting The Sittingbourne School from a school within Kent and you have received a notification of your new eligibility, this will need to be transferred to us by Kent County Council or your child’s previous school.

If you have any queries, you can contact KCC - freeschoolmeals@kent.gov.uk

 

Confidentiality 

We use a cashless canteen system, so pupils who receive free school meals are not identified at the till. All pupils choose from the same menu and information about eligibility is kept strictly confidential.

 

Need help or have questions?

If you would like support with an application, or want to check whether you might qualify, please contact the school office.