Free school meals, supermarket vouchers

Find out how parents and carers in Croydon can get free school meals and other support linked to free school meal eligibility.

Universal free school meals in primary schools

All children in Croydon state-funded primary schools can receive a free school meal. Private or independent schools are not included.

You do not need to apply for your child to receive their universal primary school meal. However, if you receive Universal Credit, you should still register your child for benefits-related free school meals through your child’s school.

Universal free school meals are not currently available in state-funded secondary schools. However, the options below are available for all pupils and families to register for.

From September 2026, all children in households receiving Universal Credit can qualify for free school meals, regardless of household earnings.
There are two categories of benefits-related free school meals:

Targeted Free School Meals

Your child may qualify for Targeted Free School Meals if your household receives Universal Credit and has annual net earned income of £7,400 or less.

Children eligible for Targeted Free School Meals:

  • receive a free school meal
  • can attract additional funding for their school through Pupil Premium
  • can access the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme
  • may qualify for other support linked to Targeted Free School Meal eligibility

Some families receiving other qualifying benefits may also be eligible for Targeted Free School Meals.

These include:

  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • the guarantee element of Pension Credit

Some families with No Recourse to Public Funds may also qualify. 

Expanded Free School Meals

If your household receives Universal Credit but your annual earned income is more than £7,400, your child can qualify for Expanded Free School Meals.

Children eligible for Expanded Free School Meals receive a free school meal.

Expanded Free School Meal eligibility does not provide additional Pupil Premium funding and does not give automatic access to the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.

If your child was previously registered for free school meals
The rules for free school meals changed from September 2026. Previous transitional protections, which allowed some children to keep their free school meal eligibility even when their family circumstances changed, have now ended.
Eligibility must now be checked again to confirm whether a child qualifies for Targeted or Expanded Free School Meals.
For the 2026/27 school year, families should make sure their child has been registered or re-registered.
 

How to apply

Applications for benefits-related free school meals are made through your child’s school. Contact your child’s school office to register or re-register your child.

Your eligibility will be checked to confirm whether your child qualifies for Targeted or Expanded Free School Meals.  You may also check LGFL free school meal checker.

Even if your child already receives a universal free school meal primary school, it is important to register if you receive Universal Credit.

If you live in Croydon but your child attends a school outside the borough, you should check the free school meal arrangements with the local authority where the school is located.

Holiday Activities and Food Programme

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme provides free holiday activities and food for eligible children during the school holidays.
From September 2026, HAF eligibility remains linked to Targeted Free School Meals.
Children who receive Expanded Free School Meals do not automatically qualify for the HAF programme.
Find out more about the Holiday Activities and Food programme.

Help with food costs

School holiday supermarket vouchers are no longer automatically provided to families because their child receives free school meals.
If you are experiencing financial difficulty and need help with essential costs, including food, you may be able to get support through Croydon’s Crisis and Resilience Fund.
Find out more about the Crisis and Resilience Fund.

Help with school uniform costs

We do not provide help with school uniform or PE kit. If you need support, please speak directly to your child’s school.

Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)

Children aged between 9 months and 4 years who receive government-funded early education may be able to get extra funding to support them in their early years setting.

EYPP is paid directly to nurseries and childcare providers, who use it to support your child’s learning and development.
Speak with your child’s early years setting if you are unsure if your child receives this.

You can permit your childcare provider to apply for EYPP for your child through a parental agreement.

Families with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)

Some children in families with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) can qualify for free school meals if their household income is below the relevant threshold.

Income thresholds are:

  • £31,200 a year for families in London with 1 child
  • £34,800 a year for families in London with 2 or more children

Eligible groups can include children of:

  • Zambrano carers
  • Chen carers
  • families with NRPF granted leave to remain on private or family life grounds (Article 8 ECHR)
  • families supported under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 who have NRPF
  • a subset of failed asylum seekers supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • BN(O) passport holders
  • spousal, work or student visa holders
  • people with no immigration status

You can apply through your child’s school if you think your child may be eligible.