School milk and meals - Background
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 124 KB, Voluntary Grammar Schools PDF 112 KB and Grant Maintained Integrated Schools PDF 112 KB.
Position in Relation to Nurseries
The Department wrote to the ELBs, VGS and GMIS in November 2010 confirming the position in relation to the provision of school meals in nursery schools and nursery units. The letter can be viewed using the following links:
Arrangements for the Provision of Milk, Meals and Related Facilities - Letter to BELB WORD 258 KB
Arrangements for the Provision of Milk, Meals and Related Facilities - Letter to NEELB WORD 258 KB
Arrangements for the Provision of Milk, Meals and Related Facilities - Letter to SEELB WORD 259 KB
Arrangements for the Provision of Milk, Meals and Related Facilities - Letter to SELB WORD 258 KB
Arrangements for the Provision of Milk, Meals and Related Facilities - Letter to WELB WORD 258 KB
Arrangements for the Provision of Milk, Meals and Related Facilities - Letter to VGS/GMIS PDF 39 KB
Free School meals
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 6.iii. and 6.v. of the Arrangements the maximum taxable income is currently £16,190. The ELBs are responsible for administering the award of free school meals.
Further information on how to apply for free school meals can be found on NI Direct.
