Free School Meals

What is happening this year, 2026-27?

For this school year, all children in London Primary schools in Reception to Year 6 will receive a free school meal funded by the office of the London Mayor.

What happened before September 2023?

Since September 2014, all children in Reception and KS1 receive a free school meal. These have proved extremely popular and ensure that all children, who choose to, can have a hot meal mid-day. When children move to KS2 (Year 3) school meals need to be paid for. If you are eligible for free school meals, please apply using the link on the page below. If your child is in KS1, we ask that you still apply if you qualify as this helps the school receive more funding which in turn is used to support your child.

If you receive benefits your child will be eligible for free school meals if they:

attend a Brent primary school
attend a Brent secondary school
go to sixth form in Brent
have a full-time place at a nursery attached to a Brent school.

The qualifying benefits are:

Universal Credit
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

A pupil is only eligible to receive a free school meal where both:

a claim for support has been made
their eligibility has been verified by the school where they are enrolled or by the local authority

Households mat also be entitled to a meal if they:

are in receipt of income-related Employment and Support Allowance
receive the guarantee element of Pension Credit
meet criteria set out in separate guidance for families with no recourse to public funds

For more information or to apply, click here - https://www.brent.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals