Is my child eligible?

Reception, Year 1, and Year 2:

All children in these year groups are automatically entitled to Universal Infant Free School Meals. You do not need to apply for this entitlement. However, if you receive certain benefits (listed below), it's important to still apply. This ensures your child’s school receives additional funding through Pupil Premium, which supports extra tuition, teaching, and after-school activities.

Year 3 and above:

To qualify for free school meals, your child must receive one of the following benefits:

• Universal Credit with an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400 after tax.
• Income Support.
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
• Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
• The guaranteed element of Pension Credit.
• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for the four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit).
• Child Tax Credit (with no Working Tax Credit) and an annual gross income of no more than £16,190.

If you receive any of these benefits, please apply for free school meals. This will also ensure your child's school receives Pupil Premium funding.

How to apply

You can apply for free school meals through the Cambridgeshire County Council website:

👉 Apply for Free School Meals

If you need assistance or have questions, contact the Education Welfare Benefits Team:
📧 Email: ewb.fsm@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
📞 Phone: 01223 703 200

Pupil Premium Funding

Pupil Premium is additional funding allocated to schools to support the educational achievement of disadvantaged pupils. For the 2024–25 financial year, the funding rates are:

• £1,480 per eligible primary-aged pupil.

• £1,050 per eligible secondary-aged pupil.

• £2,570 for each pupil who is looked after or has been looked after.

• £340 for each eligible service child.

Even if your child is in Reception, Year 1, or Year 2 and automatically receives a free meal, applying for free school meals ensures the school receives this additional funding.

Additional Support: Holiday Voucher Scheme

Eligible families can receive supermarket vouchers during school holidays. For the 2024–25 academic year, the Cambridgeshire Holiday Voucher Scheme offers:

• £15 per eligible child per week during school holidays.

• £30 for Easter and Christmas holidays.

• £15 for half-term breaks.

• £75 for the summer holiday.

To qualify, your child must be eligible for income-related free school meals. If your child is in Reception, Year 1, or Year 2 and you haven't applied for free school meals, please do so to ensure eligibility for this scheme. 

If you need further assistance or have questions about eligibility and applications, please don't hesitate to contact us or visit the Cambridgeshire County Council website. We're here to support you and ensure your child has access to all available resources.