Free School Meals and Pupil Premium Checker
The LGfL Free School Meals Eligibility Checker has identified £232 Million since 2014 in funding for schools
Introducing the New FSM Checker
For over a decade, LGfL has been helping schools and Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) unlock vital funding through its Free School Meal checking service. In 2021/22 alone, the LGfL Free School Meals Eligibility Checker identified nearly £41.5 million in potential Pupil Premium funding.
In response to feedback from schools, MATs, and Local Authorities, we’re excited to announce the rollout of a new FSM Checker, featuring a host of new improvements.
Bulk upload functionality: Run checks on behalf of parents in one go - no need to enter applications individually.
No USO link or MIS data sharing: Schools can now use the FSM Checker without sharing student or parent/guardian data from their MIS.
Available to all schools: The FSM Checker is now accessible to every school in England, including those without an LGfL connection.
Greater control over applications: Admins can edit, archive, and delete applications as needed.
Simplified parent access: Parents no longer need usernames or passwords.
How it works
With the LGfL FSM Checker, any parent or school in England can use the system completely free of charge. Eligible children receive a free school meal, and schools get the funding they need. This funding helps provide additional staff, resources, and support to improve education for all pupils.
Parents, or schools acting on their behalf, simply enter a few basic details online. The system securely checks with the Department for Education (DfE) and gives an instant “eligible” or “not eligible” response. There are no paper forms, and you only need to apply once.
Schools can recheck eligibility and manage applications at any time using a secure portal. The LGfL FSM Checker has helped schools identify millions in funding. It could help your school too, completely free!
