b'FREE SCHOOL MEALSThe Free School Meals Team determines entitlement to free school meals for children attending full timeeducation.Parents are required to make an application which includes a request for the applicants national insurancenumber. Parents are not required to provide documentary evidence of the benefit they receive but must sign adeclarationonthecompletedform.EnfieldhasaccesstotheDepartmentforEducations(DfE)EligibilityChecking System that holds data from the Department for Work and Pensions, Home Office and HM Revenueand Customs. Application forms are provided to schools for parents to use, parents can also access them from the Councilswebsite.On receipt of the completed application, the Free School Meals Team will use the DfEs Eligibility CheckingSystem to determine a familys entitlement to free school meals.If a family does not receive a qualifying benefit, the Free School Meals Team will confirm this to the parent andinform the school.If a family qualifies for free school meals, the Free School Meals team will confirm this to the parent and informthe school.Once free school meals are determined, families will continue to receive free school meals until the end of theUniversal Credit rollout period. This will apply regardless of any change to household circumstances, even ifearnings rise above the qualifying threshold during that time. This protection will remain in place until the endof the 2025/26 school year, e.g. July 2026.Schools should inform the Free School Meals Team if a child in receipt of free school meals leaves the school. To increase the uptake of free school meals, the Free School Meals Team carry out monthly re-checks on the DfEEligibility Checking System for those parents who previously made an application and checked Not Eligible.Schools will be informed of any family who has become Eligible. FSM entitlement reports can be run by the school at any time by accessing SAM. Entitlement reports can also beprovided on request.The Team will provide advice and guidance to schools regarding any changes in legislation to free school meals,suchasUniversalCreditRoll-Outandadviceandguidancetoparentsontheapplicationprocedureandqualifying benefits. Click here to return to the contents page'