Free school meals expansion grant: 2026 to 2027

The free school meals (FSM) expansion grant provides extra funding to mainstream schools, special schools and alternative provision schools. This is to help with the additional costs of free meals following the expansion to FSM eligibility in England to all children in households receiving Universal Credit.

The FSM expansion grant will provide funding for the period from September 2026 to March 2027.

Methodology

This sets out the methodology for the FSM expansion grant for the 2026 to 2027 financial year. It includes information on how we will allocate funding for:

• mainstream schools – from reception to key stage 4
• special and alternative provision schools

Conditions of grant

Grant recipients must comply with these terms and conditions when spending the grant funding.

Published allocations

Allocations will be published on this page in February 2027.

Further information

YouMore can find more information on the FSM expansion andis whatavailable it means for the sector in the FSM guidance for schools and local authorities.

The FSM expansion also applies to to:

• further education free meals.meals You– can find detailsout inmore from the free meals in further education guide.

  Further

• early detailsyears ofsettings funding– forfind out more from the guidance on the early years settingsfree willschool bemeals publishedexpansion ingrant: due2026 course.
  to 2027