2026 changes to Free School Meals (FSM) Eligibility

Disclaimer - This guidance is subject to change and there are still ongoing conversations between the DfE and the software providers which may impact schools.  

The three main MIS systems, Arbor, Bromcom and SIMS have all published guidance on how to record the changes to FSM and those are linked below.  

Firstly the outline from the DfE (there is a lot to digest so i would strongly recommend reading the outline from the DfE in it's entirety)  

From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit attending these schools will be entitled to receive a free meal.

We have made this a legal requirement through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 and intend to lay additional regulations extending this duty to maintained nursery schools.

Going forward, there will be 2 categories of benefits-based free school meals:

• Targeted FSM, which continues to be based on the existing threshold, covering pupils in households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less
• Expanded FSM, a new category covering pupils who do not qualify for targeted FSM, but who are in households receiving Universal Credit

Ever 6 FSM Cohort

Pupils who are, or have been, eligible for FSM over the last 6 years are part of the ‘Ever 6’ FSM cohort. This is used for disadvantage funding and accountability purposes. Following the expansion of FSM, Ever 6 FSM will be based on targeted FSM.

Arbor - Managing the 2026 changes to FSM

Bromcom - FSM eligibility in student records 

ParentPay (SIMS) - power point presentation