Find out whether your child qualifies for free school meals and how to apply.
All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 automatically get free school meals but you should still register your child to receive free school meals if you are eligible (you must meet the eligibility criteria to apply). By doing this your child’s entitlement can be checked on a regular basis so that their school can receive valuable additional funding for every child receiving a free school meal.
Your child must attend a primary or secondary school in Torbay or South Devon High School to get free school meals. If you have a child at nursery, they can receive free school meals as long as they attend a local authority maintained nursery (not private) and attend both the morning and afternoon sessions.
Students attending sixth forms can receive free school meals if the sixth form is part of the school. If your child is at a college, they will not be entitled. Students attending South Devon College may be eligible for free college meals. Applications are processed by South Devon College and for more information please contact 08000 380123.
Free school meals will stay in place for all pupils who qualify under the current rules until the end of the 2025/26 school year. This applies even if your family’s situation changes or your child moves to a different school stage.
From the start of the 2026/27 school year, all children in families receiving Universal Credit will get free school meals. The current protections will end. Only those who meet the new rules will qualify. The plan is to end transitional protections alongside the change in threshold. Pupils will get free meals if they meet the new eligibility criteria. This is regardless of whether they were previously protected. More details will be shared before September 2026.
Please check this page for updates.
Parents and carers who receive any of the following are entitled to free school meals
Only the benefits listed above qualify for free school meals. If you have recently become unemployed but are still receiving Working Tax Credits, you may be entitled to free school meals.
Children in our care, eg foster children cannot be considered for FSM.
We can undertake an online check for you in complete confidence - you will need to tell us your National Insurance Number or your National Asylum Seeker Number (NASS), your date of birth and your surname (as it appears on your benefit letter).
If you still believe you are entitled, please call 01803 208100 for advice. We may need you to send us documentary evidence of a qualifying benefit in this circumstance.