Free School Meals (FSM)
Free School Meals rechecks 2026
FSM Changes to Eligibility and Transactional Protection
On 8 May 2026 central government released latest information regarding changes to FSM eligibility and impact upon on funding. Please refer to these if you have any questions about new eligibility status or funding changes.
Gov.UK: Free School Meal guidance (schools)
Gov.UK: Free School Meals grant (expanded)
Gov.UK: Free School Meal guidance (further education)
HCC funding team can also answer questions about funding (not pupil eligibility) - csf.sfu@hertfordshire.gov.uk
FSM Resources
FSM - Change of School
The link below should be used for all pupils from Reception to Year 13, for those pupils who have joined your school from another Hertfordshire School. Any pupil that no longer attends your school for any reason, the application must be archived. This process has been introduced following the closure of Solero (Year 3+) to standardise procedures and ensure that all required information is available to enable the successful transfer of pupils when they change schools.
School details: Pupils joining or leaving your school
This form should only be completed where a pupil has transferred to your school from another Hertfordshire school. If a pupil has joined your school from a school outside Hertfordshire, a new Free School Meals application must be submitted by parent using the link below:
Hertfordshire County Council: Free school meals and other benefits | Hertfordshire County Council
If a pupil has left your school, or has never attended your school, and an application appears on your DfE system, the application must be archived. Only the school to which the pupil is currently linked on the system can archive the application.
Guidance on how to archive an application is available in the walkthrough document located on the HFL FSM webpage.
School details: Pupils joining or leaving your school
DFE Free Schools Meal system
Below are slides and powerpoint presentations. The school walkthrough is a guide how to use the system from start to finish. The other slides are from Town Hall events that were held soon after launch of new DFE FSM system.
Letters for parents
New Free School Meal Eligibility Categories – Summer 2026
The information referenced in the Word document formed part of the School Census guidance issued to schools earlier this year which explains the new eligibility categories from summer 2026. This information is contained on pages 32 to 35 of the document and provides an explanation of the two new Free School Meal categories: Targeted and Expanded.
In addition, the Town Hall event taking place on Wednesday 3 June 2026 will provide further detail on how the Department for Education (DfE) system will operate from the start of the new school year. This session will explain how the different Free School Meal categories will be recorded and displayed within the DfE system.
Providing Free School Meals to families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)
This article provides guidance about FSM eligibility for families with NRPF and how schools can support families with applications.
FSM transitional protection
This bulletin provides updated information about FSM transitional protection.
School meals for Ukrainian refugees
This bulletin provides guidance on providing meals for this group.
Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) applications – Reception to year 2
Parents/guardians can apply for a FSM for pupils in KS1 using this link Free School Meals (Universal Infant / Nursery) - register. Pupils who moved from year 2 to year 3 must reapply at the start of the academic year.
In the autumn term FSM for KS1 will be removed from Solero and records will be shown on DFE Sign in system, currently used for Year 3 and above. The link below gives further guidance and actions required by impacted schools
Music applications for support with music fees.
The application process for support with music fees (100% remission and 50%) changed in June 2022.
- Families wishing to view information or apply for music should visit Hertfordshire Music Service
- For families unable to make an online application:
- Schools are advised to support the family make the application on their behalf. Schools should speak to Hertfordshire Music Service (HMS) directly regarding offline applications.
- At present HMS do not have a telephone number for offline referrals, however families can email the dedicated inbox for financial support applications: remission@herfordshire.gov.uk.