London Primary Schools - Universal Free School Meals
- Technical Writer
- Technical Writer
In response to the cost of living crisis, pupils in state-funded primary schools in London will receive free school meals, starting with the academic year 2023/24.
For more information about the support measure, please click here.
How to record Universal Free School Meals for all pupils
Usually, only the Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils are eligible for Universal Free School Meals (UFSM), but in response to the cost of living crisis, all pupils in state-funded London primary schools are currently eligible for UFSM.
To record these meals in SCO, there are three methods to choose from:
Amend the SCO eligibility for UFSM to include Years 3-6 as well as Reception, Year 1 and 2.
Change all meal codes to zero value after lunch on the last day of term.
For every current meal code (ie Meat, Veggie), add a zero value code (ie KS2 UFSM Meat, KS2 UFSM Veggie).
In order to easily report on Key Stage 2 free meals, we recommend choosing option 1.
Please see below for more details.
1. Set all pupils as eligible for UFSM in SCO
This method is the easiest to set up and the Kitchen Summary report offers a great summary of KS2 free meals.
You should not complete this method until after lunch on the last day of term for the academic year, to ensure pupils are correctly charged for meals for the remainder of this current academic year.
a) Configure Years 3-6 as eligible for UFSM
Click on the Configuration tab in SCO
Select System options
Select the Dinners/Extended Day tab
Select the Set up button next to Set up universal free school meals
Tick Year Groups 0-6 only (do not tick Year 15)
Select Done, Done
Pupils will now display in a Purple colour on the Dinners register to indicate UFSM.
At the end of the academic year 2024/25, or whenever UFSM for all year groups is no longer provided, you can simply untick years 3-6 to remove their UFSM status and begin charging them for meals again.
b) Run the Kitchen Summary Report
Once meals have been entered in the new academic year, you can use the following report to report on Key Stage 2 free meals.
Select the Dinners tab in SCO
Select Reports
Select Kitchen report
Select the report dates as appropriate
Tick Display summary only
Click OK
The report will show the total 'paid' and 'free' meal codes for each Key Stage group for the time period requested.
Please see an example below:
2. Change all meal codes to zero value
a) Amend meal price to 0.00
This method must be set to take place after lunch on the last day of term, to ensure pupils are correctly charged for meals for the remainder of this academic year.
Click on the Dinners tab in SCO
Select Settings...
Select Meal codes
Select Advanced price config
Select the Meal code from the drop down list
Select Add new
Enter the 'From' date to the start date of the new academic year
Leave the 'To' date blank
Enter the price as '0.00'
Repeat for other meal codes by selecting them from the drop down menu as appropriate
Click Done
At the end of the academic year, if free UFSM for all years ends, you will need to add the prices back in so parents of year 3-6 pupils are charged for meals again. Please contact our support team if you require assistance with this.
b) Run the Kitchen Summary Report
Once meals have been entered in the new academic year, you can use the following report to report on Key Stage 2 free meals.
Select the Dinners tab in SCO
Select Reports
Select Kitchen report
Select the report dates as appropriate
Tick Display summary only
Click OK
Key Stage 2 meals will be reflected in the Kitchen Report, but will be listed as Paid meals not Free.
Key Stage 1 meals will be reflected as Free meals.
Please see an example below:
3. Add an extra meal code(s)
a) Create new code(s)
We recommend you do not use this method if using online meal ordering as you are unable to restrict which parents can choose the original meal codes or the new KS2 UFSM meal codes.
Select the Dinners tab in SCO
Select Settings...
Select Meal codes
Select the + sign on the bottom right of the meal code list
Enter an appropriate meal code Letter and Description (ie KS2 UFSM Meat Meal)
Enter the price as 0.00
Repeat for other meal codes as appropriate (ie KS2 UFSM Vegetarian Meal)
Click Done
At the end of the academic year, if UFSM for all years ends, you will need to deactivate the KS2 UFSM meal codes by selecting them as 'Unused' - please note meal codes cannot be deleted once saved.
b) Run the Kitchen Summary Report
Once meals have been entered in the new academic year, you can use the following report to report on Key Stage 2 free meals.
Select the Dinners tab in SCO
Select Reports
Select Kitchen report
Select the report dates as appropriate
Click OK
These meals will be grouped on the report by class rather than by Key Stage.
For further help with the Dinner Money module see also:
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