Universal Infant Free School Meals

Universal Infant free school meals (UIFSM) provides funding for all government funded schools to offer free school meals to pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2.
 

School Meal charges from Year 3

When a child starts in year 3 (Key Stage 2 (KS2)) school meals become chargeable.  The current school meal costs £2.50 each per day/ £12.50 per week.  Parents pay online using our Arbor App.  This is a quick and easy method of paying for and tracking your child’s school meals. Notification of any actions required will be sent closer to the time.

For reference (to save having to think about topping up the account) the costs for the term are detailed below. Alternatively set yourself a reminder to top-up the account at whichever interval you prefer.

Cost per term

Autumn Term

• Sept - Oct Half term: £95.00 (38 days)
• Nov - Christmas Holidays: £85.00 (34 days)

Spring Term

• Jan - Feb Half Term: £72.50 (29 days)
• Feb - Easter Holidays: £62.50 (25 days)

Summer Term

• April - May Half term: £70.00 (28 days)
• June - Summer Holidays: £87.50 (35 days)

Low Income Families - Free School meals

Who is eligible for free school meals?

Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:

• Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guarantee element of Pension Credit • Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

In addition, the following pupils will be protected against losing their free school meals:

• Since 1 April 2018, all existing free school meals claimants have continued to receive free school meals whilst Universal Credit is rolled out. This applies regardless of any change in household circumstances, including if their earnings rise above the threshold during that time. Protections will remain in place until the end of the 2025/26 school year.
• From the start of the 2026/27 school year, the Department for Education will extend entitlement to free school meals to include all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit. It is our intention to end transitional protections alongside this change in threshold, with eligibility for all pupils reverting to whether they meet the eligibility criteria, regardless of whether they were previously protected. We will issue further guidance ahead of September 2026.

A pupil is only eligible to receive a free school meal when a claim for the meal has been made on their behalf and their eligibility, or protected status, has been verified by the school where they are enrolled or by the local authority.

We would encourage all eligible parents to apply, even if your child will be bringing packed lunch. Every application increases our school budget allocation and thus helps your child.

We can make an enquiry on your behalf, please contact the office by calling 01992 573518 or emailing at office@ivychimneys.efspt.org.