Free school meals
Free school meals checking
We manage free school meals checks for most schools in the borough.
Check whether your child’s school is on our list of participating schools.
If not listed, contact the school office.
If you receive any of the benefits listed below, apply for benefits-related free school meals to gain additional support. This does not affect your child's universal free meals entitlement.
Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are automatically covered.
Free school meals for children in Year 3 and above
For children in Year 3 and above, eligibility depends on 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. To report changes, email: schoollunches@swindon.gov.uk.
Further information
Visit our online portal to apply for free school meals or email: schoollunches@swindon.gov.uk.