Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM)

Come dine with us for free with UIFSM

All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 get a healthy nutritious lunch at no cost to you.

Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) is a government initiative aimed at improving academic attainment for infant children and to help families save money.

Since September 2014, all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 in state-funded schools in England have been eligible for a filling nutritious cooked school lunch at no cost to the parent.

This includes infant pupils in maintained infant and primary schools, free schools, academies, and schools for pupils with special educational needs and pupil referral units. No proof of eligibility is required, it just needs a child to be in once of the relevant three years and their school will arrange for them to have lunch at no cost to the parent.

Each child gets a healthy nutritious cooked lunch which includes a main course and pudding, water is always available in the school dining room.

You will be given the school menu which shows the meals that are being prepared on a three week rotation. The menus always reflect the seasons with different vegetables and fruit on offer. All our schools aim to cater for those on special diets because of medical, cultural or religious reasons.

View information and examples of school menus

Good food provision in schools has been shown to lead not only to healthier children, but to improved attainment. The plan was brought in to help create a generation of children who enjoy food that makes them healthier, more successful and most importantly happier.

Download the UIFSM information leaflet

What are the benefits of this scheme?

Better health - a cooked school lunch gives them the essential vitamins and minerals they need to help them grow, develop, fight infection and have the energy to lead a happy and healthy life.

Better achievement and behaviour

There’s a link between what children eat at lunchtime in school, where they eat it and how they focus with their teachers in the afternoon. It teaches them to sit down together, which develops their social skills and encourages them to try new foods.

Visit the Children's Food Trust website to find out the benefits of a healthy school lunch

As a parent/guardian this scheme can save you an average of £370 per year on lunchtime meals as well as the time it took to prepare packed lunches. Another benefit is that after school your child won’t need a cooked meal because you know they have already had a nutritious one at school.

Last updated: 17/03/2021 16:03