Free School Meals and 15/30 Hours Free Childcare

Raising a family brings great joy, but managing daily living expenses alongside childcare and education costs can be challenging. To assist families, the UK government offers essential support packages, including free school meals and funded early years childcare hours. Taking full advantage of these schemes can save your family thousands of pounds each year.

Free School Meals (FSM)

Providing nutritious meals during the school day supports children's health and learning. School meal support is delivered through two main pathways in England:

1. Universal Infant Free School Meals

All children in state-funded primary schools in England automatically receive free school meals during Reception, Year 1, and Year 2. You do not need to be on a low income to receive universal infant meals.

2. Benefits-Related Free School Meals

For children in Year 3 and above, free school meals are available if you receive a qualifying benefit. Qualifying criteria include receiving:

• Universal Credit, provided your household net earned income is £7,400 or less per year before benefits.
• Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA).
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
• Guarantee Element of Pension Credit.
• Child Tax Credit (provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income below the threshold).

Even if your child receives universal infant free school meals, registering for benefits-related meals is vital. Doing so unlocks the Pupil Premium for your child's school, securing additional government funding for educational resources and school trips.

15 and 30 Hours Funded Childcare

Early education entitlements help working parents manage childcare bills while remaining in employment.

Universal 15 Hours

All three and four-year-olds in England are entitled to 15 hours per week of free early education or childcare for 38 weeks per year (570 hours total per year). This applies regardless of parental earnings.

Expanded Funded Hours for Working Parents

Under expanded government schemes, additional funded hours are available for working parents:

• 15 hours per week for eligible working parents of children aged 9 months up to 2 years.
• 30 hours per week for eligible working parents of three and four-year-olds (1,140 hours total per year).

To qualify for working parent childcare hours, each parent must earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours per week at the National Minimum Wage and earn less than £100,000 adjusted net income per year.

Tax-Free Childcare and UC Childcare Support

Working parents can also use Tax-Free Childcare, where the government pays £2 for every £8 you pay into an online account, up to £2,000 per child per year (£4,000 for disabled children). If you receive Universal Credit, you can claim back up to 85% of eligible childcare costs.

Check your eligibility and apply for childcare codes at GOV.UK Childcare Choices.