HAF Free School Meals and Eligibility

Free School Meals and HAF eligibility

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme provides free holiday activities and healthy meals for eligible children and young people during the school holidays, funded by the Department for Education.

Please visit the Department for Education's guidance page on HAF Programmes including changes for 2026/2027 : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/holiday-activities-and-food-programme/holiday-activities-and-food-programme-2026-to-2027 (external link).

For guidance on the FSM changes please visit the Department for Education's guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools-and-local-authorities/free-school-meals-guidance-for-local-authorities-local-authority-maintained-schools-academies-and-free-schools?utm_source=chatgpt.com#main-points- (external link).

**The main eligibility group for HAF is children who meet the criteria for Targeted Free School Meals (FSM).**

Changes to Free School Meals from September 2026

From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, all children in households receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to Free School Meals, regardless of household earnings.

This means that there will be two categories of Free School Meal eligibility:

1. Targeted FSM

Targeted FSM applies to households receiving Universal Credit with household earnings of £7,400 or less.

Children who meet the Targeted FSM criteria remain eligible for the HAF Programme.

Targeted FSM also includes additional support such as Pupil Premium.

2. Expanded FSM

Expanded FSM applies to households receiving Universal Credit with household earnings above £7,400.

Children eligible under the Expanded FSM criteria will receive free school meals. However, the expansion of Free School Meals does not extend HAF eligibility.

HAF remains a targeted programme based on the existing FSM threshold.

This means that from September 2026, being eligible for Free School Meals will not automatically mean that a child is eligible for HAF. To be eligible for HAF through the main eligibility route, a child must meet the criteria for Targeted FSM.

Families with no recourse to public funds may also be eligible for Targeted FSM, subject to meeting the relevant criteria.

Transitional protections are ending

Since 2018, some children have continued to receive Free School Meals because of transitional protections introduced during the rollout of Universal Credit.

These protections end at the end of the 2025 to 2026 academic year.

This means that some children who currently receive Free School Meals may no longer be eligible from the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year if their family circumstances mean they no longer meet the Targeted FSM criteria.

As HAF eligibility remains based on Targeted FSM, some children who currently receive HAF may therefore no longer be eligible after the 2026 summer holiday.

Eligibility will be based on current benefit status.

How is eligibility checked?

Free School Meal eligibility can be verified through the Department for Education's Free School Meals Eligibility Checking Service (ECS).

The service can confirm whether a child is eligible for Free School Meals and, where applicable, which category of FSM eligibility they meet.

For HAF purposes, the check must confirm that the child meets the criteria for Targeted FSM.

If you are unsure whether your child is eligible for Free School Meals, please visit the Sutton Council Free School Meals webpage or use the Free School Meals eligibility checker (External Link). You can also contact the FSM team at fsm@cognus.org.uk

What information may be needed for an eligibility check?

If the Sutton HAF team needs to complete an eligibility check directly, you may be asked to provide:

• Parent/carer's full name

• Parent/carer's date of birth

• Parent/carer's National Insurance number

• Child's full name

• Child's date of birth or age

• Child's current address

• The name of the school the child attends, if applicable

This information is required to complete the eligibility check accurately.

Please only provide the information requested for the eligibility check.

Children attending alternative provision

If your child attends alternative provision, including Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS), please contact the Sutton HAF team to discuss eligibility.

We may need to complete an eligibility check directly.

Discretionary HAF places

Local authorities have flexibility to use up to 15% of their HAF places to support other children and young people who may benefit from the programme, in line with local need and priorities.

Sutton Council may use this discretionary funding to support children who do not meet the Targeted FSM criteria, subject to local eligibility criteria, available funding and programme capacity.

Places through this route are limited and are not guaranteed and must be submitted via a professional. The form will open 2 weeks in advance of the HAF programme period starting. Please contact the HAF team for the referral form holidayactivityprogramme@sutton.gov.uk

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

My child receives Free School Meals. Are they automatically eligible for HAF?

No.

From September 2026, there will be two categories of Free School Meal eligibility: Targeted FSM and Expanded FSM.

HAF eligibility remains targeted at children who meet the Targeted FSM criteria.

My child is eligible for Expanded FSM. Can they access HAF?

Expanded FSM provides free school meals for children in households receiving Universal Credit with household earnings above £7,400.

The expansion of Free School Meals does not extend HAF eligibility.

HAF remains based on the existing FSM threshold, meaning that children must meet the Targeted FSM criteria to be eligible through the main HAF eligibility route.

I receive Universal Credit. Is my child eligible for HAF?

Not automatically.

From September 2026, all children in households receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to Free School Meals, regardless of household earnings.

However, HAF eligibility remains based on the existing FSM threshold. Your child must meet the criteria for Targeted FSM to be eligible through the main HAF eligibility route.

My child currently receives Free School Meals. Will they continue to be eligible for HAF?

This depends on which FSM criteria your child meets from the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year.

Children who meet the Targeted FSM criteria remain eligible for HAF.

Some children currently receiving Free School Meals under transitional protections may no longer meet the Targeted FSM criteria once those protections end. These children may therefore no longer be eligible for HAF after the 2026 summer holiday.

What information is needed for an eligibility check?

You may be asked to provide:

• parent/carer's full name

• parent/carer's date of birth

• parent/carer's National Insurance number

• child's full name

• child's date of birth

• current address

• school details where applicable

My child is not eligible for Targeted FSM. Can they still access HAF?

Sutton Council may use limited discretionary HAF funding to support other children and young people who may benefit from the programme.

This is subject to local eligibility criteria, available funding and programme capacity.

You can also access HAF clubs via fee paying places. Please visit our Summer HAF providers and select the age group you would be interested in: https://suttoninformationhub.org.uk/pages/haf/haf-bookings . Thereafter you can look to contact the clubs directly to see whether they can offer fee paying places.

Already confirmed as HAF eligible?

Find out how to receive and use your HAF vouchers -https://suttoninformationhub.org.uk/pages/haf/haf-eligibility-and-unique-codes

For more information about Free School Meal eligibility, please visit https://www.sutton.gov.uk/benefits-and-support/apply-free-school-meals .

For questions on FSM please contact fsm@cognus.org.uk