Free School Meals
To check your child's eligibility for Free School Meals, please complete the following online form if you have a National Insurance number: Free School Meals Eligibility Check - The Ashcombe School, Dorking – Fill in form
If you do not have a National Insurance number, please download and complete the form below and return it to us at info@ashcombe.surrey.sch.uk.
Form for Free School Meals Eligibility Check (if parent does not have
a National Insurance number)
From September 2026 - what is changing?
From September 2026 all children in households receiving Universal Credit will be eligible for free school meals, regardless of income. This means many more families will be able to access free school meals.
End of current protections
At present, once a child qualifies for free school meals, they usually keep that entitlement for the remainder of their school education, even if family circumstances change, this is called Transitional Protection. This protection will continue until the end of the 2025/26 school year.
From September 2026, eligibility will be based on your current circumstances. This means some children may gain or lose eligibility depending on changes to household income or benefits.
Why apply?
Registering for free school meals can:
- Provide free, nutritious lunches for your child.
- Help the school access additional funding to support pupils.
- Ensure you receive any related support you may be entitled to.
If you receive Universal Credit and have not applied for free school meals before or believe you may now be entitled, please apply through the school using one of the forms above. Please note that free school meals are not automatically given,
If your child currently receives free school meals and you believe you remain eligible, you must re-apply now using one of the forms above. If you do not re-apply, your child will not receive their free school meal credit from September.
Parents can apply at any time but applying or reapplying by Sunday 19th July 2026 will help us to check your eligibility in time for the beginning of the autumn term 2026.
You will only need to complete the form once. Subsequent rechecks of your eligibility will be carried out annually during the summer term, to assess whether you continue to be eligible for free school meals.
Please note that you should contact the Ashcombe if you have a change in financial circumstances.
If you have any questions relating to the above, please contact the school in confidence on info@aschombe.surrey.sch.uk.
The Ashcombe School
T | 01306 886312
E | info@ashcombe.surrey.sch.uk
Ashcombe Road
Dorking
RH4 1LY