Who gets free school meals

Children in reception, year 1 and 2

All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 can get free school meals.

If you receive a qualifying benefit (see list below) you should complete the application form so that the school can receive extra funding.

If your child attends a nursery attached to a Camden primary school or a Camden run children’s centre then you should also apply for free school meals.

Children in year 3, 4, 5 and 6

All children in year 3, year 4, year 5 and year 6 can get free school meals for the 2023-2024 school year only regardless of benefits or household earnings.  Funding for this is provided by the Mayor of London and it covers schools in London boroughs only.

If you receive a qualifying benefit (see list below) you should complete the application form so that the school can receive extra funding.  

Children in year 7 and above

If your child is in year 7 or above, you or your child must receive one of the following qualifying benefits to apply for free school meals:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Job Seeker's Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Universal Credit – your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including benefits) 
  • Child Tax Credit with a taxable income of no more than £16,190 and not in receipt of Working Tax Credit
  • the Guaranteed Element of State Pension Credit
  • support from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS)

If you receive Working Tax Credit you will not be entitled to free school meals unless you have:

  • stopped work in the last 4 weeks; or
  • reduced your hours to less than 16 hours in the last 4 weeks

Applications must be made in the name of the person who is receiving the benefit.

You only need to apply once. Any child eligible for free school meals from 1 April 2018 will keep their free school meals eligibility until 31 March 2025, even if your circumstances change.

Apply for free school meals

If your child attends a Camden school, you must apply to us, even if Camden is not your local authority.

Apply for free school meals

If you do not want to apply online, please download a free school meals application form. You must print this out and post it to us at the address given on the form. 

If you’re eligible, we will let your child’s school know within 10 working days of receiving your application. We will also contact you to confirm your entitlement.

Maria Fidelis School

If your child goes to Maria Fidelis School, you should apply directly to the school for free school meals, because they undertake their own assessments.

Moving schools

If your child moves to a new school within Camden, and is eligible for free school meals, you should contact us and give details of the new school.

If your child moves to a school outside Camden, you should contact the new school or the local authority and ask how to apply for free school meals.

Contact us for free school meals advice

Phone

020 7974 5771 (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between 9am - 3pm)

Address

London Borough of Camden
Camden Town Hall
Judd Street
London. WC1H 8NJ