School Meals
School Meal Arrangements
Pupils in Early Years and Key Stage 1 (Reception, Year 1 and 2) are currently entitled to a free school meal through the Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) program.
For pupils in Key Stage 2 (Year 3, 4, 5 and 6) the cost of a school lunch is currently £2.79
KS2 should pay for their school meals through the online payment system SchoolMoney.
You will be sent a welcome message and login via text and email once your child is admitted.
Please note our Financial Regulations govern that we cannot offer credit, therefore all dinner monies MUST be paid for in advance. Reminders for arrears will be sent from SchoolMoney on a regular basis
Free School Meals entitlement applications
From September 2026, Free School Meals (FSM) in England are expanding so that all children in households receiving Universal Credit qualify, regardless of household income.
- Targeted FSM: Applies to households receiving Universal Credit with an annual net earned income of £7,400 or less, or legacy benefits like income-related ESA and the guarantee element of Pension Credit. This tier unlocks extra school funding like Pupil Premium and the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.
- Expanded FSM: Applies to households receiving Universal Credit with an income above £7,400. This tier provides free school lunches only, without additional premium funding or related entitlements like travel assistance
- Universal Infant Free School Meals: Continues automatically for all pupils in Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 regardless of household income or benefits
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guarantee element of Pension Credit
- Transitional Protections End: Old "safety net" protections that allowed families to keep FSM when their income rose above £7,400 have ended for the start of the 2026–2027 academic year. Everyone must meet current active criteria.
It is important to note that those parents who are registered for Free School Meals can also be entitled to subsidised activities such as music lessons and residential trips.
If you are eligible and would like to apply, please email the school via finance@tendring-pri.essex.sch.uk
We will use the London Grid for Learning (LGfL) site to perform a check using parent/carer NI number, DOB and Name. This will confirm if families are eligible.
Should you have any queries or you would like confidential support with applying, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Dykes our Office Manager on the email address above.
