Free school meals

Free school meals are available to pupils in mainstream state-funded schools (including academies and free schools) who are receiving benefits such as:

• Universal Credit
• Income Support
• Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Certain tax credits
• Support under the Immigration and Asylum Act

You may also qualify if you:

• are an asylum seeker, or
• have no recourse to public funds (NRPF)

If you are unsure, it is still worth applying, we can check for you.

All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 at state-funded schools receive free meals, regardless of income.

If you are on a low income, you should still apply for Targeted FSM to help the school receive extra funding (Pupil Premium) and access additional support like the holiday activities and food programme and holiday vouchers.

If your child is aged 16 to 19 and in further education or attending a sixth form not attached to a school, free meals are not managed by the council.

You will need to apply directly through the college or education provider, as they have their own eligibility criteria and application process.

Through our BetterOff service, we may be able to award free school meals automatically.

If our records show you are likely to be eligible, we will contact you and you may not need to apply.

You can:

• ask at your child’s school
• visit your local gateway or hub
• call us on 0161 793 2500

Please use one of the forms below to apply for free school meals. To complete the form, you will need both you and your partner's (as applicable) National Insurance Number or NASS (National Asylum Support Service) number.

If you child attends one of the schools below, please do not use this form, instead contact your school directly:

• Barton Moss Primary School
• Buile Hill Academy
• Ellesmere Park High School
• Marlborough Road Academy
• Moorside High School
• St Augustine's CE Primary School

If you have a general enquiry about free school meals please use our contact FSM form.

Enquire about a child’s existing free school meal claim

If you are claiming any of the qualifying benefits listed above, please use this form:

Apply for income related free school meals

Or if you are an asylum seeker please use this form:

Apply for free school meals as an Asylum Seeker

Or if you have no recourse to public funds (NRPF), please use this form:

Apply for free school meals if you have no recourse to public funds (NRPF)

Members of staff who work at Salford schools can submit applications and enquiries on behalf of parents using our Salford schools FSM form.

Salford schools free school meal application/enquiry form

Members of staff who work at schools outside Salford can submit applications and enquiries on behalf of parents using our out of area schools FSM form.

Out of area schools free school meal application/enquiry form

Members of staff who work for Salford City Council can submit applications and enquiries on behalf of parents using the form below.

Council employees free school meal application/enquiry form

Members of staff from external organisations that support asylum seekers can submit applications and enquiries on behalf of parents using our External organisations FSM form.

External organisations free school meals application/enquiry form

Please be aware that photos of supporting documents or screen shots of online accounts can be uploaded with any of the above forms, and that we will be unable to process applications for free school meals unless we have seen the necessary proof that you are entitled to claim.