Free School Meals

[Stargrower]

Does anyone know if the new scheme applies to early years?

We are a full day care setting and 'buy' our mid day meal from the local primary school which we collect each day and bring back to nursery.

I assumed that the free meals initiative wouldn't apply to us but a parents said that it is for "Foundation and Year 1"

Any ideas?

[sunnyday]

I don't think so........perhaps give your LA a call for clarification.....

[SueJ]

If it's anything like the free fruit scheme it doesn't apply - in our area children join reception classes in the September after they turn 4 so they will get free school lunches at school - we as usual will get diddly squat

[Stargrower]

Thanks both of you...kind of what I thought!

[Madmum]

We're a schoolnursery but the school meals scheme only applies when they're in Reception.

[Guest]

not nursery, only reception, year 1 and year 2

[Cait]

They said on the news 5 - 7 year olds, so does that mean they got it wrong, or does it mean that two thirds of the reception children won't get it until summer term when they turn 5 (for one of them, that means not till next September as she's not 5 until 24th August)

[catma]

The use of "5 year olds" is newspaper code for reception.

It's school reception to yr 2.

Cx

[Cait]

aha, thanks Catma!

[mundia]

School nursery classes should still have FSM for eligible families (those meeting the benefits criteria), but they have to be there all day (ie not a morning and lunch)

 

Information here

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/328501/UIFSM_DEPARTMENTAL_ADVICE_FINAL_080714.pdf