Free School Meals
Important changes from September 2026 — please read and act now
From September 2026, the Government is expanding Free School Meal (FSM) eligibility. Every child in a household receiving Universal Credit will now be entitled to Free School Meals — regardless of household income.
Action needed: everyone must reapply
This is really important: transitional protection ends in August 2026. This means that even if your child has received Free School Meals in the past, that eligibility does not automatically carry over. Every family — including those already receiving FSM — must submit a new application to continue receiving them from September.
If you don't reapply, your child will not have Free School Meals in September, even if they've had them before.
We've sent a letter to all parents via MCAS with full details of this change. We have also sent a letter to all parents of children with Free School Meals both electronically and in paper form. If you've missed it, please check your MCAS messages, or email studentservices@glebelands.surrey.sch.uk if you can't locate it.
Who's eligible: Targeted vs Expanded FSM
From September 2026, there are two categories of benefits-based Free School Meals:
- Targeted FSM — for households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less (or certain other qualifying benefits). Children in this category also attract additional school funding, such as pupil premium.
- Expanded FSM — a brand new category for households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings above £7,400. This is the group newly eligible from September 2026.
In short: if your household receives Universal Credit, your child is very likely now eligible — whatever your income. It's well worth applying.
How to apply
- Complete the application form at the bottom of this page
- Send your completed form to studentservices@glebelands.surrey.sch.uk
Why apply — even if you're not sure you'll qualify
A hot, nutritious meal every school day makes a genuine difference — to concentration, energy, and how your child feels through the school day. It also takes one less thing off your plate at home. With eligibility now expanded, many more families qualify than before — so it's worth applying even if you weren't eligible previously.
No stigma, no way to tell
Free School Meals are completely discreet. There is no way to see at the till whether a child is using a Free School Meal allocation or a paid account — it works exactly the same for every student.
How it works day to day
Free School Meals provide a £2.70 Meal Deal allocation, usable at lunchtime only. This is a dedicated FSM price, separate from The Pantry's standard meal deal pricing.
If your child wants snacks or food at break time, they'll need to either:
- Bring their own snack from home, or
- Top up their dinner money account via MCAS, to pay for break-time food separately
Questions?
If you're unsure whether you qualify, or need help with the application, please don't hesitate to contact Student Services.