Claims window now open for free school meals additional costs
FAO All Schools and All Phases
You can now claim for additional costs incurred from providing locally sourced vouchers to pupils eligible for benefits-related free school meals between Monday 4 January and Friday 5 March, when schools were closed to most pupils. You can also claim for lunch parcels provided during this period and up until the start of the Easter holidays.
Claims can only be made for support that was provided to eligible pupils over the specified period and to the values stated in the guidance. Claims should not be made in relation to support provided through the Edenred national voucher scheme, as all those costs have already been met centrally by the Department for Education. All claims made will be cross-referenced with orders made using the national voucher scheme.
The claims window for these costs is now open and will close at 23:59 on Tuesday 4 May. Schools are able to claim directly, or local authorities and academy trusts can claim on their schools’ behalf.
Further information on claiming for additional costs can be found in the coronavirus (COVID-19) free school meals additional costs guidance.
Cheryl Headon
Head of Schools Traded Services