School milk and meals - background
Background information about school milk and meals including legislation, policy, the position in relation to nurseries and free school meals.
Legislation
Articles 58 and 59 of the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1986, as amended, require the Education Authority (EA) and Boards of Governors (BoGs) of Voluntary Grammar Schools (VGS) and Grant Maintained Integrated Schools (GMIS) to provide milk, meals and other refreshments and the facilities to consume them, in accordance with arrangements approved by the Department.
Policy
The Department is responsible for formulating and developing policy and the necessary financial arrangements. The day-to-day operation of the school meals service is a matter for the EA in the controlled and maintained sectors and individual VGS and GMIS.
The EA and BoGs of VGS and GMIS provide the service in line with the Approved Arrangements for the Provision of Milk, Meals and Related Facilities made under Articles 58 and 59.
There are separate Arrangements for the:
- Education Authority
- Voluntary Grammar Schools
- Grant Maintained Integrated Schools
Further information on school food can be found on the EA website.
Free school meals
Free school meals and uniform grants are available to all pupils who meet the eligibility criteria. These criteria reflect the Minister’s decision to raise the income threshold for FSM applicants who receive Universal Credit to £15,390. In future years, this threshold will rise in line with consumer price inflation so that this support keeps pace with the cost of living and continues to reach those most in need.
Further information on how to apply for free school meals and uniform grants, is available on the EA website.
School meals in nurseries
The Department wrote to the Education and Library Boards (ELBs), VGS and GMIS in November 2010 explaining that a nursery school or nursery class in a primary school cannot compel children to take a school meal. The letters can be viewed using the following links:
- Arrangements for the Provision of Milk, Meals and Related Facilities - Letter to BELB
- Arrangements for the Provision of Milk, Meals and Related Facilities - Letter to VGS/GMIS