West Berkshire Council is clamping down on who can claim home-to-school transport after a change in government rules.
From the start of the 2026/27 academic year, all children in households receiving Universal Credit who attend maintained schools, academies and free schools will be entitled to a free meal.
The Government has made this a legal requirement through the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, creating an expanded free school meals (FSM) category alongside the existing targeted FSM.
Expanded FSM widens eligibility but does not extend entitlement to transport or change the current eligibility threshold.
"Extended rights" is the transport term for extra free home-to-school travel for low-income families. To be entitled to FSM, and thus extended rights, the net earned household income had to be below £7,400 per annum.
The new category covers pupils who don't qualify for targeted FSM but are in households on Universal Credit. Households eligible for expanded FSM will not be eligible for additional transport.
The council proposes revising its home-to-school transport policy to make clear that additional transport under extended rights applies only to pupils eligible for targeted FSM.
The council says the changes will align with government policy and reduce the risk of challenges that could lead to extra home-to-school transport costs.
Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter
