From September 2024, children who are eligible will be automatically signed up for free school meals. 

In Bedford Borough, 21% of children receive free school meals. This means they get a choice of healthy, hot meals, with cultural, dietary and religious requirements catered for, every school day, at no cost to the family.

Some schools also offer reduced rates for school trips, clubs, after school care, holiday activities and uniform to children who receive free school meals.

During some school holidays, the Council may provide families receiving income-related free school meals with supermarket vouchers. Find out more on our Free school meals provision during school holidays webpage.

Free school meals are worth around £470 per year, per child, and they are known to help children thrive and:

• help children be ready to learn, contributing to improved behaviour and learning
• boost attainment and attendance
• help children achieve their potential and increase a child’s lifetime earnings
• offer the child the opportunity to develop social skills by sitting with friends whilst they eat
• help families save on food costs
• improve diet quality and helps combat childhood obesity, saving the NHS money in the long term

The school will also receive additional funding to cover the catering cost of free school meals, as well as school funding grants, such as the Pupil Premium, based on their take up of free school meals.

You can find out more from the Department of Education's free school meals guidance.

How do I get free school meals for my child? 

From September 2024, most families will no longer need to apply for a free school meal for their child(ren). Instead, we will operate an auto enrolment / opt out scheme. 

Which children will be auto-enrolled to free school meals?

The auto-enrolment / opt out scheme is only for children in year three and above.

Children in reception, year one and year two automatically get universal infant free school meals during term time.

What does ‘auto-enrolment’ mean?

We know some children in Bedford Borough who are eligible for free school meals are not getting them. This new auto-enrolment scheme means more of our children will get free school meals, along with the many benefits they offer and a better start in life. 

From September 2024, we will determine which children are eligible for free school meals based on the information the Council already holds about Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support.

If your child is eligible, we will write to you to let you know.

• If you want to accept the free school meals, you will not need to do anything, and you will be automatically enrolled on to the free school meals scheme.
• If you want to opt out of the free school meal for your child, you can.

How do I opt out of free school meals?

In the letter we send to let you know your child is eligible, we will explain how you can opt out if you decide you don’t want the free school meals.

If you have received a letter from us offering you free school meals for your child, but you have decided to opt out, please use the form below to let us know.

Opt out of free school meals

Automatic enrolment checks will take place regularly, and parents will need to opt out on an annual basis.

Find out how we process your personal data. 

Transactional protection

The following pupils will be protected against losing their free school meals:

• Since 1 April 2018, all existing free school meal claimants have continued to receive free school meals whilst Universal Credit is rolled out.  This applies even if your earnings rise above the threshold during that time.
• Any pupil gaining eligibility for free school meals after 1st April 2018 will be protected against losing free school meals until March 2025.
• After March 2025, any existing claimants that no longer meet the eligibility criteria at that point (because they are earning above the threshold or are no longer in receipt of Universal Credit) will continue to receive free school meals until the end of their current phase of education (primary or secondary).

I just moved to Bedford Borough / my circumstances have changed

Although we will carry out regular auto-enrolment eligibility checks, there may be occasions where some families need to apply for free school meals between checks, for example:

• if your circumstances change unexpectedly
• if you move into Bedford Borough

Please use the form below to request a free school meal eligibility check. 

Request a free school meal eligibility check 

If you do not hear from us or your school within three weeks of your application, it means your child is not eligible for free school meals. 

Tell us about a change in your contact details

Please email FSMcensus@bedford.gov.uk if you change your home address, email address or if you have any questions.