What is Free School Meals Auto Award?
Auto Award is a process that allows the local authority to check whether your child is eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) without you needing to apply each year. Auto-Award is being introduced for the 2026/27 academic year.
This new process will use information already held by us to identify pupils who may be eligible for FSM. This includes:
current FSM claimants
households receiving Housing Benefit or Council Tax support
Anyone outside of these groups will need to apply manually on the Parent Portal.
Why has my child been identified for Auto Award?
Your child has been identified as eligible for FSM based on information we hold. Auto Award helps ensure eligible children receive their entitlement as quickly as possible.
Do I need to do anything?
No action is required if you are happy for your child to receive FSM.
You can choose to opt out of us running a check against your details. Your child will not be enrolled and will not receive FSM. Information on how to opt out will be included in the communication you receive.
If you decide during the academic year that you would like your child to receive free schools meals, you can apply through the Parent Portal
How will I know if my child has been identified for Auto Award?
You will receive written confirmation from us that your child is eligible.
How will I know if I am eligible for Free School Meals and Pupil Premium or Free School Meals only?
Targeted Free School Meals: If you meet the Universal Credit household income threshold (under £7400) your child will be entitled to:
free school meals
a free code to access the Time2Move Holiday Programme - during the relevant school holidays
the school will receive Pupil Premium funding
Expanded Free School Meals: Pupils in Universal Credit households over the income threshold of £7400. This will entitle your child/ren to a free school meal only.
Will I be contacted again in the future?
Yes. If your child is identified, you will be contacted each year to confirm whether you wish to continue with enrolment. This applies even if you chose to opt out the year before.
What if I think my child should be eligible but has not been identified for Auto Award?
You can still make a Free School Meals application directly through your local authority via the Parent Portal
How long will my free school meal application take to process?
Manual applications will usually be processed within five working days of being received. In peak periods, it may take a little longer to process your application.
Does receiving Free School Meals affect my benefits?
No. Receiving Free School Meals does not affect any benefits you receive.
What are the benefits of Free School Meals?
Eligible children can receive a nutritious meal during the school day. Schools may also receive additional funding, known as Pupil Premium. This can be used to support children's education and wellbeing.
If my child moves school, what do I do?
If your child moves to another school in Cornwall during the academic year, their eligibility status will move over to the new school. If your child is moving to a school in another local authority or moves to Cornwall from a different county, then you’ll need to reapply.
Is my information secure?
Yes. Any information used to check eligibility is handled securely and in accordance with data protection legislation. More details can be found on Privacy policy - Cornwall Council
What if my circumstances change?
If you are awarded FSM, your child will retain it for the remainder of the academic year.
Will my child be treated differently if they receive Free School Meals?
No. Schools aim to ensure that all children are treated equally, and it is often not obvious which pupils receive FSM.
Who can I contact if I have questions?
If you have any questions about Free School Meals or the Auto Award process, please contact us on:
01872 324295
contact your child's school direct
Can my child receive free school meals if attending a college?
We only support six-form colleges. Please contact the College as they run their own bursary scheme towards the cost of meals.
I am a foster parent, can I apply for the child?
No, there is an element of funding, within your foster care allowance, towards the cost of meals.
Can my free school meals be backdated?
No, free school meals are awarded from the date a claim is made, once eligibility is checked and verified.
Appeal a free school meals decision
Free school meals is a statutory benefit. The criteria are determined by central government. There is no appeal process. If you feel that your application was incorrectly refused, we are happy to look at it again. We may ask you to provide hard copy evidence of your entitlement. If we can't determine your eligibility, we may recommend that you discuss this with the appropriate agencies. For example, Department for Work and Pensions.
Type of food provided
Schools in Cornwall are responsible for arranging their own school meal provision and they must meet the national nutritional standards. Please contact your child’s school for more details of the food they provide.
We believe that when children eat better, they achieve better. Children are more likely to concentrate in the classroom in the afternoon after eating a healthy school lunch. They should be offered in a pleasant environment. This also improves their health and their learning about making better food choices.