Free School Meals

From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, all children attending the Academy whose households are in receipt of Universal Credit will be entitled to receive free school meals.

As part of these changes, families who are currently receiving free school meals must re-apply before August 2026 (you must include your Universal Credit statement), if they wish their child to continue receiving free school meals in the 2026 to 2027 academic year.

If a new application is not submitted before this deadline, your child’s entitlement to free school meals will cease. 

You can apply for free school meals at any time; however, eligibility will only commence once the application has been processed, supporting documents have been checked and eligibility has been confirmed.

The government has extended the eligibility for free school meals so that all families in receipt of Universal Credit are now entitled to apply for free school meals, regardless of their household income.

If your child has benefited from free school meals previously or not, if you are in receipt of Universal Credit, please complete the application form and return it to the Academy together with:

• your most recent Universal Credit statement (all pages must be included)

Please note that a separate free school meals application form must be completed for each eligible child attending the Academy.

If you are entitled to free school meals - credit via the restaurant Mealman system is allocated on a non-transferable daily basis to provide a two-course lunch in the restaurant.

If you fulfil the free school meals entitlement criteria, you can apply for free school meals at any time. Please complete the attached form below and return to Ms N Campbell at Ashcroft Academy: 

Application for Student Support 2026-2027

If your entitlement is approved, your child will then stay on free school meals until the end of the current academic year. You will need to reapply every academic year.