School Meals

Free School Meals

If your financial circumstances have changed, you may find that your child is eligible to receive free school meals.

Eligibility

From September 2026 in England, if your family receives Universal Credit, your child should be eligible for free school meals, even if your earnings are above the old £7,400 limit.

Qualifying Benefits

• Universal Credit: Your household's net earnings must be less than £7,400 per year. 
• Income Support . 
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance . 
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance . 
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 . 
• The guaranteed element of Pension Credit . 
• Child Tax Credit: Provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and your annual gross income is £16,190 or less. 
• Working Tax Credit run-on: You can receive free meals for the 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit. 

How to apply for Free School Meals

Apply online

You can apply online using this link:

Free school meals - Lancashire County Council

Apply by post

Download the application form:

Free school meals and pupil premium form

Please return completed forms to:

PO Box 100
Pupil Access Team
Lancashire County Council
County Hall
Fishergate Hill
Preston PR1 0LD

If you are moving to Lancashire from another area you will need to make a new application.

Email address for West Lancashire (South): fsm.south@lancashire.gov.uk

Free School Meals Application Form

Catering

Over 80% of our students access the school catering facilities at Our Lady Queen of Peace. Our Dining Room and Common Room catering facilities are run by a highly experienced team of cooks, led by our Chef and our Catering Manager.

School meals operate via facial recognition at the tills. Students entitled to free school meals will also get their meals via this method. The cost of a school meal will be £2.70 from Sept 2026. Parents are asked to keep their child’s school meal account topped up using ParentPay

Our food is of an extremely high standard; this is why the uptake for school meals is so high. We source local produce for our meals and they are carefully prepared to meet nutritional regulations. Our team of staff is highly trained and our resident Chef has vast experience in the catering industry. They ensure that meals are appetising and they regularly review menus, taking into account student and staff preferences. We are proud of the standards achieved and many of our staff use this facility to order food for themselves and their families.

Breakfast

Breakfast is served between 8am and 8:25am each morning in both the Common Room and the Dining Room. A full range of food options is available, from fruit to toast and tea and coffee. All students are allowed a bagel each morning free of charge before the start of the school day.

Breaktime

During break, Year 11 can access our catering facilities via the Common Room and all other year groups use the Dining Room.  A full range of food and snacks is available for students to purchase.

Lunchtime

During lunch, we offer a selection of hot and cold meals, including a vegetarian option. There is a meal deal to keep costs down; this includes a hot meal, a drink and a desert for £2.70. In addition to hot food, we offer a range of salads and a deli, where students create their perfect sandwiches, wraps and paninis. A full range of healthy drinks and deserts is also available.

Special Dietary Requirements

If your child has special dietary requirements, you can contact our kitchen team directly.