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FSM Qualifying Benefits & DfE Extra Funding (Pupil Premium)

Even though all primary-aged children in London currently receive free school meals (FSM).  We ask ALL new pupils attending Tetherdown to sign up for FSM via the eligibility checker regardless of their current employment, financial, or immigration status.
Extra Funding from the Department for Education (DfE) to Support your Child's Learning

Even though all primary-aged children in London currently receive free school meals, we ask all new pupils attending Tetherdown to sign up for FSM via the FSM Eligibility Checker regardless of their current employment, financial or immigration status and, in particular, families who are in receipt of qualifying benefits should complete an online form for free school meals using the FSM Eligibility Checker.

Signing up for FSM via the eligibility checker could mean Tetherdown School receives extra funding (called Pupil Premium) from the DfE, which can be used to support your child’s learning, as well as providing additional teaching, resources and activities. All applications will be retained by the FSM checker with entitlement automatically rechecked regularly. 

Key changes to FSM, eligibility and protections are below.

From 1st Sept 2026 Benefits-based Free School Meal (FSM) Eligibility

From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, the government is expanding FSM eligibility to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit regardless of household earnings. Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits: 

  • Universal Credit.
  • Income Support.
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
  • The guaranteed element of Pension Credit.
  • Families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF - meeting separate criteria)
  • Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit).
  • Child Tax Credit (with no Working Tax Credit).

From 1st Sept 2026 Key Changes to Free School Meal (FSM)

From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, the government is expanding FSM eligibility to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit regardless of household earnings. FSM will be structured into two categories below but only targeted FSM will attract extra funding for Tetherdown School.

For both FSM types eligible pupils will receive free school meals. You can apply through the FSM Eligibility Checker.

Targeted FSM Explained

Children eligible for targeted FSM will attract pupil premium and other disadvantage funding for their schools and includes:

  1. Children from households in receipt of Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less.
  2. Ever 6 children who are recorded as eligible for free school meals, or have been recorded as eligible in the past 6 years based on targeted FSM.
  3. Eligible children of families who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF). For further information and how to apply, please go to the Haringey website.
  4. Households in receipt of support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
  5. Households in receipt of Income-related Employment and Support Allowance or the guarantee element of Pension Credit.

Expanded FSM Explained

Children from households in receipt of Universal Credit, with annual household earnings exceeding £7,400 will be entitled to expanded FSM (meals only)

By applying, through the FSM Eligibility Checker Tetherdown School will receive extra funding to help support your child's learning. 

Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF) Vouchers

From September 2026, when the new FSM expansion takes place, HAF will not be expanded to children from households in receipt of Universal Credit for this delivery period. 

For further clarification: 

  • children who become newly eligible for FSM in September 2026 due to the expansion to households on Universal Credit, but are above the existing FSM threshold, do not become eligible for HAF.

  • children who become newly eligible for FSM under the existing threshold become eligible for HAF.

By applying, through the FSM Eligibility Checker Tetherdown School will receive extra funding to help support your child's learning. 

Free School Meal Transitional Protections are Ending at the end of the school year 2025/26

From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, transitional protections for free school meals will end. Households must meet the FSM eligibility criteria from the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year to continue receiving provision.

  • Transitional protections for free school meals have been in effect since 1 April 2018. This has meant that pupils becoming eligible for free meals under the benefits-based criteria have retained their entitlement, even if their household circumstances have changed.
  • Transitional protections apply until the end of the 2025 to 2026 academic year. All pupils eligible for free school meals under the benefits-based criteria before the end of the 2025 to 2026 academic year should continue to receive this entitlement until the end of that academic year.

Moving Into Haringey from another Local Authority or Moving within Haringey and in Receipt of FSM

Moving Into Haringey from another Local Authority or Moving within Haringey and in Receipt of FSM

If you are currently in receipt of FSM and are moving into Haringey from a different borough OR have moved within Haringey it is your responsibility to inform Tetherdown Primary School that you are in receipt of FSM.  Sign up via the FSM Eligibility Checker. All applications will be retained by the FSM checker and with entitlement automatically rechecked regularly. 

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