School Meals Menu
The Food for Life Partnership - an introduction
The Food for Life Partnership is lead by the Soil Association and made up of five charities - Focus on Food, Garden Organic, Health Education Trust and the R...
SCHOOL DINNER PRICES September 2026/27
Eligibility
From September 2026, there will be two types of free school meals:
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Targeted free school meals
Targeted free school meals are for lower income families.
Your child may be able to get free school meals if you receive one of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit with household earnings below £7,400 per year
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Pension Credit (guaranteed element)
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- No recourse to public funds (NRPF). Children in NRPF households may be able to get free school meals, subject to income thresholds. You must apply through your child’s school, as you cannot apply online. Find out more about eligible NRPF groups.
Expanded free school meals
If you receive Universal Credit and your household earnings are above £7,400 per year, your child will qualify for expanded free school meals. This group covers meals only.
Free school meals for infants
All infant age pupils (Reception, Year 1 and Year 2) in government-funded schools automatically receive a free school meal.
If you're entitled to benefits-related free school meals, you should still apply so that your child’s school receives extra funding.
Free school meals for nursery age children
If your child attends a nursery class full time (before and after lunch), they may be able to get free school meals if they qualify.
This does not apply to children attending private nurseries.
Extra funding for your school
Extra funding is available for children who qualify for targeted free school meals.
This funding helps schools provide extra support for pupils.
This is currently:
- £1,550 per year for Reception to Year 6
- £1,100 per year for Year 7 to Year 11
Applying for free school meals for your child, even if they don’t take it, means their school gets this funding.
Extra support for your child
Your child may be able to access extra support if they qualify for targeted free school meals. This includes:
Let's start your online form submission to: Walsall - Free School Meals
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Application for free school meals
This scheme is for residents
Free School Meals
This form is only to be used if you are applying for free school meals in the borough of Walsall. You do not have to provide evidence of your benefits, we use an online checking system connected with your benefit providers which tells us whether you are eligible or not for free school meals. To ensure your application can be processed accurately please complete all sections of the form.
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Parental Guide to a 'Healthy Lunch Box'.
