This article has been brought to you by Slough Borough Council's Data and Information Developer Worker, Anjum Javaid, for the attention of all Free School Meal Administrators within Slough Schools.
On 1st April 2018 the DfE changed the qualifying criteria for entitlement to free school meals. The main change related to free school meals applicants claiming Universal Credit. Previously, applicants receiving Universal Credit were eligible for free school meals. Front 1st April 2018, Universal Credit claimants were only eligible for free school meals if the family's net earned annual income was less than £7,400.
Because the change to the qualifying criteria meant a significant number of children would no longer qualify for free school meals, DfE introduced the concept of "transitional protection". This meant children who would have lost their eligbility under the new criteria had their eligibility protected until:
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The government completes the rollout of Universal Credit in 2022, and then
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Until the end of the phase of education they are in on 31st March 2022 e.g. until they are complete year 6, year 11 or year 13.
The rules around transitional protection and its application have given rise to some misunderstanding amongst our schools.
To make things easier, we have updated our guidance documentation for schools, simplified the termly batch processes schools must follow, and organised an overview/training session for free school meal administrators.
We would strongly urge free school administrators to attend. Please get in touch with Anjum or Paul for more information or any queries that you may have FSM.Admin@Slough.gov.uk