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Free School Meals
Wiltshire Council - Free School MealsIf you need to reapply or apply for Free School Meals (FSM) for your child, please use the Wiltshire online portal (link below). The application form is short and only requires basic details such as your name, address and National Insurance number.
In order to qualify for FSM, Wiltshire Council will need to know that you are receiving a qualifying benefit. The benefits that apply are:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Guarantee element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) and your annual income is £16,190 or less
- Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying)
- Universal Credit, with net earned income of £7,400 or less a year (PLEASE NOTE: This income limit is being removed from Sept 2026)
- Your household has no recourse to public funds (NRPF), and meets the government income thresholds
- More information is on GOV.UK: Guidance - Providing free school meals to families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) (GOV.UK)
- If you do meet the eligibility criteria you can contact the free school meals administration team by emailing fsm@wiltshire.gov.uk or telephone 01225 713780 for guidance on how to make an application.
There is some upcoming changes from September 2026 in regards to eligibility for FSM, please see letter below sent to parents/carers on the changes:
Free School Meal Changes Effective September 2026
Apply Online for Free School Meals - Wiltshire Council Portal
If you would prefer to apply by post, please download the paper version and send to the address below:
Free School Meals Paper Application FormFree School Meals
Revenues and Benefits
Wiltshire Council
County Hall
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JN
If you need help, please contact the Wiltshire Council free school meals team:
Receiving Free School Meals
When we have confirmation of a successful FSM Application, your child will automatically receive a daily allowance of £3.00 on their online cashless catering account.
When paying for food at the Dining Hall, there is no need for students to declare that they receive Free School Meals – their allowance is automatically on screen for the staff member. This means that the whole process is very easy and discrete.
The allocation of £3.00 can be used at lunchtime or split over break and lunch. At lunch, the allocation enables students to receive a savoury item, a sweet item (such as yoghurt, fruit or a cookie) and a healthy drink.
Free School Meals and the Pupil Premium
Schools receive additional funding for students receiving FSM as well as students who no longer receive FSM but have done in the last 6 years (they are known as Ever 6 students). We receive £985 for each student who receives FSM and for each Ever 6 student.
We use some of this funding to provide additional discounts to all FSM and Ever 6 students. Specifically, this goes towards activities that will help to develop students holistically. We also provide free GCSE preparation materials.
We currently provide the following discounts and entitlements to FSM and Ever 6 students:
- One free chargeable enrichment activity per long term.
- One-to-one peripatetic music lessons.
- All curricular day trips fully paid for.
- 10% off all foreign trips.
- 10% off all trips during activities week.
- £86 off D of E registration and equipment.
- Free revision guides when provided by our subject leads.
If you would like to find out more about how we use the Pupil Premium grant and its impact on young people, please follow the link below:
