Children receiving Free School Meals up to this date will remain on them until their current phase of education ends, regardless of any changes to the families’ financial circumstances.
Primary Schools
This means that the Council will re-assess the eligibility of these children when they move from Primary to Secondary School. The first group of children to have eligibility re-assessed are those that are currently in Year 6 and this will happen in the
summer term. If a child is no longer eligible for Free School Meals, the family will be contacted to let them know that the entitlement has been ended. Primary Schools will see this information as amendments on their BSO lists.
The process of assessing the eligibility of children moving from Primary to Secondary School will be repeated annually until all those children that were receiving transitional protection have moved from Primary to Secondary School.
Secondary Schools With A Sixth Form Attached
In September, we will identify those children that were receiving Free School Meals in the main school before they transferred into the sixth form attached to the school. If a student is no longer eligible for Free School Meals, the family will be contacted
to let them know that the entitlement has been ended. Again this process will be repeated annually until all those children that were receiving transitional protection have moved from main school into an attached sixth form.
New Applications for Free School Meals from 1st April 2025
Please be aware that the existence of a protected sibling already in school does not automatically mean the new child will receive a Free School Meal. Families receiving Free School Meals under Transitional Protection may not meet
the criteria when they apply for additional children after 1st April 2025 as their financial circumstances may have changed.
Where an applicant is eligible from 1st April 2025, the eligibility will be reviewed by the Council at regular intervals. If a child is no longer eligible following a review, the family will be contacted to let them know that entitlement has
ended.
This information only applies to schools where the Council administers the Free School Meal Applications.