Free School Meals and Pupil Premium

If your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2, they automatically receive a free school meal through the Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) scheme. However, UIFSM is different from income related Free School Meals. 

Even though your child already receives a free school meal, you may still be eligible for income related Free School Meals.

Since September 2026, there are two categories of income-related free school meals - Expanded Free School Meals and Targeted Free School Meals.  

Expanded Free School Meals 

If your family is eligible for Expanded Free School Meals:

• Your child will receive a free school meal.
• The school does not receive Pupil Premium Funding.   

Targeted Free School Meals 

If your family is eligible for Targeted Free School Meals: 

• Your child will receive a free school meal.
• The school will receive additional Pupil Premium funding to support your child's education. 
• This funding can be used to provide additional support, resources and opportunities for eligible pupils. 

What is the difference?

Both Targeted and Expanded Free School Meals provide your child with a free school meal.

The important difference is that Targeted Free School Meals also provide additional Pupil Premium funding for the school, which can be used to support eligible pupils.

Eligibility Criteria – September 2026

The eligibility criteria for Free School Meals changed on 1 September 2026.

Expanded Free School Meals  (free school meals only)

Your child may be eligible if your family receives

• Universal Credit with an annual household income above £7,400    

Targeted Free School Meals  (Free School Meals – with Pupil Premium funding)

Your child may be eligible if your family receives:

• Universal Credit with annual household income of £7,400 or less
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• support as a family with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)

If your child is eligible for Targeted Free School Meals, the school can receive up to £1,550 additional Pupil Premium funding to support their education.

Pupil Premium

Pupil Premium is additional funding provided by the government to support eligible pupils and help them achieve their full potential.

At Nether Green Infant School, we use Pupil Premium funding to help remove barriers to learning and provide additional support and opportunities for eligible pupils.

This may include support with:

• Learning and academic progress
• Financial support for school organised educational trips, visits and workshops
• Financial support towards school uniform
• Financial support for extra-curricular clubs
• Learning resources
• Wellbeing and pastoral support
• free school milk

For more information, please see our Pupil Premium Strategy Statement 2024–2027

How to apply

If your child is not currently receiving benefits-based Free School Meals and you think your family may be eligible, you can apply online through Sheffield City Council.

You can also:

• ask the school office to apply on your behalf, or
• contact Sheffield City council's Free School Meals team on 0114 273 4567 (option 4, then option 3).

If your child is already confirmed as eligible for Targeted Free School Meals, you do not need to make another application or request a recheck. Sheffield City Council will contact families if any action is needed.

Why is it important to apply?

Even if your child already receives a free school meal through the Universal Infant Free School Meal scheme, it is still important to check whether your family is eligible for income-related Free School Meals.

If your child qualifies for Targeted Free School Meals, this means:

Your child receives a free school meal + the school receives additional Pupil Premium funding to support eligible pupils.

If you think you may be eligible, please apply even if you are unsure.

If you have any questions about Free School Meals or Pupil Premium, please contact the school office.