School milk and meals

Legislation

Articles 58 and 59 of the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1986, as amended, require the Education and Library Boards (ELBs) and Boards of Governors (BoGs) of Voluntary Grammar Schools (VGS) and Grant Maintained Integrated Schools (GMIS) to provide milk, meals and other refreshments and the facilities to consume them, in accordance with arrangements approved by the Department.

Policy

The Department is responsible for formulating and developing policy and the necessary financial arrangements.  The day-to-day operation of the school meals service is a matter for the ELBs in the controlled and maintained sectors and individual VGS and GMIS.

The ELBs and BoGs of VGS and GMIS provide the service in line with the Approved Arrangements for the Provision of Milk, Meals and Related Facilities made under Articles 58 and 59.  There are separate Arrangements for the Education and Library Boards PDF 115 KB, Voluntary Grammar Schools  PDF 103 KB and Grant Maintained Integrated Schools PDF 104 KB.

Certain categories of pupils are entitled to free school meals.  Details of the qualifying criteria are contained in paragraph 6 of the Arrangements.  For the purposes of paragraph 6ii of the Arrangements the maximum taxable income is currently £15,575.  The ELBs are responsible for administering the award of free school meals to all pupils.