Find out whether your child qualifies for free school meals and how to apply.
The UK government offers free school meals (FSM) to pupils whose families are eligible for certain benefits. If a child is eligible for FSM, it means their school will also receive extra funding. It’s called Pupil Premium Funding.
From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, we are expanding FSM eligibility to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit regardless of household earnings. Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:
A pupil is only eligible to receive a free school meal where both:
Households may also be entitled to a free school meal if they:
In addition:
Your child must attend a primary or secondary school in Torbay or South Devon High School.
A child at nursery can receive free school meals if:
Students attending sixth forms can receive free school meals if the sixth form is part of the school.
Students attending South Devon College may be eligible for free college meals. Applications are processed by South Devon College. Find out more by contacting them on 08000 380123.
You are not eligible to apply for FSM if:
We are making it easier than ever to get free school meals if your child is entitled to them.
You can apply for FSM via our website. We can do a completely confidential online check. You will need to tell us:
We will check your claim and let you know if you are entitled.
You can also contact your child’s school to ask for a free school meal application form. Return this to the school, who will return it to us. We will then check your eligibility.
However, please be advised that this will take longer to process than the other two options. It is quicker and easier to fill out the online form.
Torbay Council has introduced an opt-out, auto-award process. We use data we already hold and information from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to check if your child can get free school meals and/or pupil premium funding.
When we identify a child who is entitled, we send their family a letter to let them know. If you don’t want to be registered for FSM, the letter will explain how you can opt-out. Otherwise, we will let the child’s school know to register them for FSM.
From the start of the 2026/27 school year, all children in families receiving Universal Credit will get free school meals.
Children receive free school meals if they fall into 1 of these 2 categories:
Eligible targeted covers children in households which:
These children will receive a pupil premium and other disadvantage funding for their schools.
Children who receive eligible targeted free school meals can also receive other support such as:
Eligible expanded covers children in households which:
These children will only receive free school meals.