Nursery School Meals

Free Lunches for Children at Nursery

Children in early learning and childcare can get free lunches only if they have a funded place. Contact your childcare provider to find out more.

Your child can receive free school meals if you are in receipt of the following:

• From 1 April 2025, it is anticipated that children and young people will be eligible to receive free school meals if their parents or carers are in receipt of any of the following:

  • Income support
  • Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
  • Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • Universal Credit (where their monthly earned income is not more than £850, up from the current level of £796
  • Scottish Child Payment

Getting free lunches if you’re not getting benefits or tax credits

Your child might still get a free lunch in school, early learning or childcare if you’re experiencing financial hardship. This could be because:

• Your immigration status means you can not get help from the government
• You’re still waiting on your first Universal Credit notice

Your child may also be able to get a free lunch if at any point since they were aged 2 they’ve been:

• Looked after
• Had a Kinship Care Order
• Had a Guardianship Order