Nursery, Primary, middle-deemed primary, middle-deemed secondary, secondary, all through and special schools need to submit this information in the Spring census.
The census is looking for the total number of children who are ‘free school meal eligible’ who actually had one on the day. Include both day and boarding pupils to reflect what happened on census day. If the situation at lunchtime was in some way unusual on census day then use the figures for the next normal day. See the section on unusual circumstances for more information.
Pupils are free school meals eligible if they both:
- meet the eligibility criteria
- make a claim
Do not count:
- pupils who get a free lunch only due to the universal infant free school meal entitlement
- meals provided at the beginning or end of the day
Updated