Free school meals

Free school meals checking

We manage free school meals checking for most schools in the borough. Check whether your child’s school is on our list of participating schools.

If your school is not included, please contact your school office for further assistance.

If you receive any of the benefits listed below, you should apply for benefits-related free school meals, even if your child already receives the universal free school meals offer.

Applying for benefits-related free school meals provides additional benefits for both your family and your child’s school. This does not affect your entitlement to your child’s universal offer.

Children in reception, year 1 and year 2 are automatically entitled to universal free school meals.

Apply for free school meals


Free school meals for children in year 3 and above

For children in year 3 and above, you can apply for free school meals if you or your child receive any of the following benefits:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Job Seekers Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit
    • Provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and your household annual income is less than £16,190
  • Working Tax Credit run-on
    • Paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
  • Universal Credit
    • Provided your household annual income is less than £7,400 after tax and excluding any benefits you receive

Application process

  • Processing time
    • We aim to process your application within five school days
  • Universal Credit
    • If you have recently applied for Universal Credit, we can only process your application once your benefit claim is confirmed by the Department for Work and Pensions
    • This process can take up to six weeks
  • Changes in circumstances
    • If your circumstances change, you should reapply for free school meals to ensure continued eligibility

Change in circumstances

It is essential to notify us if:

  • you or your child no longer receive any of the listed benefits
  • your child leaves school
  • your family moves out of the borough
  • your child is absent from school for an extended period

To report changes, email: schoollunches@swindon.gov.uk.


Further information

Visit our online portal to apply for free school meals or for more information, email: schoollunches@swindon.gov.uk.

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