Free School Meals
At Hazelwick School, we want to ensure that every student receives the best possible education and support. Healthy, nutritious school meals have proven health benefits, help students establish positive habits for life and can improve concentration, wellbeing and readiness to learn. Families receiving certain benefits may be eligible for Free School Meals (FSM).
Is my child eligible?
New government guidance
From the start of the 2026/27 academic year, transitional protections for free school meals will end, therefore households must meet the FSM eligibility criteria from the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year to continue receiving provision.
Going forward, there will be 2 categories of benefits-based free school meals:
Expanded FSM: for families receiving Universal Credit with earnings above £7,400 per year. These pupils will be entitled to free meals only.
Targeted FSM: for families receiving Universal Credit with household earnings below £7,400 per year. These pupils will receive a free school meal and are eligible for the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. Children in Years 7 to 11 within this category will also receive Pupil Premium funding.
Schools can use Pupil Premium funding to support the varied needs of individuals or groups of children, helping to give them the best chance possible of achieving their potential.
In previous years, Pupil Premium funding has allowed us to offer the following:
- Financial support for educational visits
- Support with revision materials
- Support with learning resources
- Additional small group sessions in a variety of subjects
- Organisational support to aid their learning in lessons.
- Extra staffing to reduce class sizes.
More Information
To find out if your child is entitled to free school meals, contact WSCC as follows:
E-mail: fsm@westsussex.gov.uk
The application form to claim Free School Meals can be found under the 'Useful Links' heading at the end of the page.