Funding for pre-16 FSM is included in your core budget
Maintained schools and academies
You receive additional funding for disadvantaged pupils through the deprivation factor of the national funding formula (NFF). This reflects the additional costs of supporting these pupils, including the provision of FSM.
Additional grant for 2026-27
FSM eligibility will be extended to all households receiving Universal Credit from September 2026.
You'll be paid an additional grant to help cover the cost of this expansion. The DfE will publish guidance and allocations on this new grant in due course.
This is explained in the 'introduction' of the NFF summary policy document for 2026-27.
We’ll update this article when more information is available. Select 'save for later' at the top of this article to be notified when we make any changes.
Special schools
Unlike mainstream schools,