All reception, year 1 and year 2 pupils are eligible
This applies to state-funded schools. The school types covered are:
- Maintained schools
- Academies
- Free schools
- Alternative provision settings, including pupil referral units (PRUs)
When do we need to provide a meal?
You have a duty to provide universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) to all eligible pupils every school day, either in-school or at another location where you're providing education (for example, a trip on a school day).
UIFSM provision only applies to lunch
You're not expected to provide evening meals. You don't have to provide lunch on non-school days, including school trips over holidays.
The DfE confirmed this.
How your funding allocation is calculated
The UIFSM grant is paid in 2 parts, based on 2 calculations.
An allocation of £2.53 for each meal taken by eligible pupils The assumption that eligible pupils will take 190 school meals in the