School support

Free school meals and support

Free meals and support for primary school children

All primary school children in Havering get free school meals.

You should still apply for the free school meal scheme if you get Universal Credit or other listed benefit. 

If you get a listed benefit, applying can get you school holiday meals and activities.

Applying may also get extra money for your school to support your child's learning from the 'Pupil Premium' scheme.

Your school gets this if your household gets a listed benefit and earns £7,400 or less a year.

How to apply for meals and support

Free school meals and support for secondary school children

A secondary school child is eligible for free school meals if their household gets Universal Credit or other listed benefit.

If you receive any of these benefits, from 1 September 2026 your child is eligible - whatever you earn. And if your household earns £7,400 or less a year, you could also get extra money for your school.

Your school gets this 'Pupil Premium' money if your household gets a listed benefit and earns £7,400 or less a year.

How to apply for meals and support

Free school meals for children aged 16 or over

If your child is aged 16 or over and studying in further education, different arrangements apply.

Speak to your child’s college or training provider to find out about free school meals in further education.

How to apply for free school meals and support

Check your child's eligibility

Apply for free school meals and extra support if you get a listed benefit:

  • Universal Credit
  • income-related Employment Support Allowance
  • support under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • meet criteria for families with 'no recourse to public funds'

Check if you're eligible on the GOV.UK website for:

Check how to apply for your child's school

You can apply online from this page if your child is at a school we do the applications for.
 
If not, you must apply through your school.
 
Please start typing the school name into the search box below to check.
 
 

Apply online for free school meals and support

To apply online, create an account or sign-in to our Synergy Early Years and School Parent Portal.

To apply through your school, ask them how to do this.

Apply for meals and support

Show you're still eligible if you're registered for free school meals

If your child already gets free school meals because of a benefit you receive, you do not need to re-apply.

Their school will check your child's eligibility through the information that's on record. Each school year, your school will check your child's eligibility.

What your child can get by applying

Pupil Premium funds to support their schooling

Your child gets either:

  • 'targeted free school meal' status

  • 'expanded free school meal' status

With 'targeted free school meal' status, their school gets ‘Pupil Premium’ funds
 
Your school will get Pupil Premium funds of:

  • £1,550 at primary school
  • £1,100 at secondary school

Support with food and activities in the holidays

Being eligible for targeted free school meals gives you access to funded spaces for the Havering Holiday activities and food programme.

Find out about the Havering holiday activities and food programme

Nutrients that every child needs

It is far easier for a child to get the nutrients they need from a school lunch than a packed lunch, research shows.

Our school meals service HES Catering provides school lunches that exceed national nutritional standards. It’d cost you £2.76 to give your child the nutrients they need each lunch, based on 2023 figures.

HES Catering uses fresh, local ingredients, and provide options to suit all dietary needs.