All children can get a free lunch at school if they're in reception class, year 1 or year 2.
If you register, your school could get extra funding called 'Pupil Premium' to pay for additional staff time, extra computers, books and trips for students.
Have your National Insurance number or Home Office number ready when you apply.
- School milk in reception, year 1 and year 2 – schools provide free milk for all children, up until their 5th birthday. If it's during the term, they won't get free milk from that term onwards.
- After that, most children who have registered for free school meals can continue to get free milk, except for children who get Universal Income free school meals. Contact your school for more information.
Free school meals
Your child can get a free school meal if you receive any of the following:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (as long as you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and you don't get more than £16,190 a year)
- Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
- Universal Credit (with annual earned income of no more than £7,400 after tax and not including any benefits you get).
Apply today if you receive any of these benefits. It takes 5 mins and in most cases we can tell you straightaway if your child can get free meals at school.
Have your National Insurance number or Home Office number ready when you apply.
- If you currently get free school meals but you no longer receive Universal Credit or earn above the threshold, your child will continue to get free school meals until the end of their phase of education (for example, primary or secondary).
- If you applied on or after 1 April 2025 – we check new applications every month. Anyone no longer eligible will stop getting free school meals. We’ll contact you if this is the case.
- School milk in year 3 or above – children entitled to free school meals can also get free milk. Contact your school for more information.
Extra help
Children in year 3 or older might be entitled to other benefits such as half price bus travel (SaverCard).
Herts Card
The Herts Card gives discounts for activities to children and young people who might not otherwise be able to access them. You'll get a link to sign up for a free Herts Card if you're eligible for free school meals due to low income.
Help with music lesson fees
Students living or attending school in Hertfordshire may be able to get financial support for instrument or vocal lessons by applying directly to Hertfordshire Music Service.
Visit Hertfordshire Music Service for details and how to apply.
You're entitled to this extra help if you're eligible for free school meals or if you get:
- Child Tax Credit, payable at a higher rate than the family element (more than £547.50)
- Working Tax Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Support (not including second adult rebate)
- Universal Credit with annual earned income of no more than £7,400 (for 100% music help) or £15,000 (for 50% music help) after tax and not including any benefits you get.