School meal query

[Ceebeegee]

Hi
DS starts primary school in September ; do all the children get free school meals , or do you have to be in receipt of certain benefits ?
I read online that all children in reception are entitled to free school meals but when I go to our local authorities site , it says only for families receiving certain benefits can claim free school meals.
TIA

[dementedpixie]

Afaik ks1 children still get free school meals

[Mehfruittea]

My DS is in Reception and he gets FSM. We are in England and not receiving benefits.

[PatriciaHolm]

At present, all children in reception, Yr1 and Yr2 in English state schools are eligible for free school meals.

[Ceebeegee]

Thank you mumsnetters :)

[Tinseleverywhere]

The tories are threatening to cancel the univeral free school meals for under 7s . But that has not been confirmed yet.

[Ceebeegee]

That wouldn't surprise me.
Who cares about children having a hot dinner , as long as the billionaires don't have a tax hike.

[CaulkheadUpNorf]

When you go visit the school for transitions there is usually a meeting where they explain this sort of thing. Or give the school a ring.

[CadnoDrwg]

Free meals are an English initiative. Education is devolved in NI, Scotland and Wales so local policies will apply there. I know in Wales it isn't offered but it may well be in Scotland or NI.

If you're in England all children up to KS1 are included in the free meals.

[dementedpixie]

P1, 2 and 3 also get free school meals currently in Scotland

[jamdonut]

It's all very nice them having free school meals....getting them to actually eat them is a whole different matter.
I consider our school meals to be very nice, but the children are so fussy, and such a lot gets wasted. You can try make them sit there till they've eaten it all, but some are very stubborn and absolutely make up their minds they don't want to eat it, or even try it!

And still children bring 'sandwiches' ,despite the meals being free.

[Rainbowcolours1]

All children in Reception and Key Stage 1 can get Universal Free School Meals. You have to register for FSM, it is this registration that depends on being in receipt of certain benefits. It Is FSM registration that allows schools to receive the Pupil Premium allowance, and lets KS2 children receive a school meal. If parents are eligible for FSM but don't register because they get UFSM then schools loose out financially.