School Lunches
School meals are provided by caterers Caterlink and prepared in our on-site kitchen.
The cost of a school meal is currently £2.95 per day (£14.75 per week).
Free School Meals
Apply online
Parents and carers can apply online through the Gloucestershire County Council Free School Meals Portal.
If you have previously applied online for a school admission place or 2-year-old funding, you can use the same login details.
Why should I apply?
Free school meals help support families by providing a healthy, nutritious meal each day.
For every child who is registered for benefits-based free school meals, the school may also receive additional funding to enhance teaching, learning and wider support for pupils. We therefore encourage all eligible families to apply, even if your child prefers to bring a packed lunch.
Who is eligible?
From September 2026, free school meals are available to children whose parent or carer receives one or more of the following:
- Universal Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Some families with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) may also qualify.
Eligibility must be confirmed following a completed application.
Infant free school meals in England
All children in:
- Reception
- Year 1
- Year 2
are entitled to Universal Infant Free School Meals, regardless of household income.
If your child is in one of these year groups, we still encourage you to complete a benefits-based free school meals application if you think you may be eligible. This helps ensure the school receives any additional funding to which it is entitled.
Already applied?
If you applied for free school meals since 1 June 2026 and your application was unsuccessful, you do not need to apply again.
Gloucestershire County Council is automatically reassessing these applications under the new eligibility criteria. Where a child is entitled, free school meals will begin from 1 September 2026, and schools will be notified automatically.
Gloucestershire's automatic enrolment scheme
Gloucestershire County Council operates an opt-out auto-award scheme. This uses information already held by government departments and the local authority to identify children who are entitled to free school meals but are not yet registered.
Families who are identified will be contacted and given the opportunity to opt out. If they do not opt out, their child will be automatically registered to receive free school meals.
How long does it take?
Most online applications receive an instant decision. You will need:
- your National Insurance Number (or National Asylum Support Service number)
- a current email address
Eligibility is checked with the Department for Education, the Department for Work and Pensions, HM Revenue & Customs and the Home Office.
Transferring to secondary school
If your child is already receiving free school meals and is transferring to a Gloucestershire secondary school, you do not normally need to reapply. Gloucestershire County Council will reassess eligibility and will contact you if there is any change to your entitlement.
Further information
If you have any questions about free school meals, please contact Gloucestershire County Council:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01452 425390
