From 2018 benefits-related free school meals criteria was updated with the introduction of Universal Credit. Transitional protections were put in place to ensure families were not disadvantaged during this rollout. This
protection period is now coming to an end on 31 March 2025.
What does this mean for families?If your child currently receives benefits-related free school meals you do not need to do anything. Your child will be protected against losing their free school meals until the end of their current phase of education, even
if your earnings rise above the current eligibility criteria
• children in years reception to year 6 will be protected until they leave their primary/junior school.
• children in years 7 and above will be protected until they leave their secondary school.
If you have previously applied for free school meals through Nottinghamshire County Council and your child’s school uses our free school meals checking service but you did not meet the eligibility criteria,
you do not need to do anything as we will continue to check your entitlement to FSM on a weekly basis and if you become eligible we will write to you.
If you have not applied for free school meals and your child attends a school that uses our free school meals checking service, you can apply online to check if you meet the criteria. If you apply before 31 March
2025, and your eligibility is confirmed, you will be protected under transitional protection.
Any new applications for free school meals after 1 April 2025, will be subject to ongoing checks to confirm eligibility.
More information about free school meals and how to apply is available on the website at the link below.
Free school meals and milk | Nottinghamshire County Council