Schools transactions update 14 June 2023
Read to find out about application arrangements for free school meals, clothing grants and education maintenance allowances. We also have an update on the ongoing P1/S1 placements starting August 2023.
P1 and S1 intake starting August 2023
We continue to receive late applications, including families moving into the area, late placing requests, or some parents simply changing their mind!
We're trying to answer as many as we can before the end of term, but as always there will be changes throughout the holiday period, so please be aware to check the admin mailbox for any changes when you return.
Appeals will be heard a little later this year, will take place over the summer. Any successful appeals will ne notified to you.
After the holidays we will pass you the waiting lists (if one exists) and handover the process to you.
Free school meals, milk and clothing grants
Summer holiday payment
The summer holiday payment will be paid into bank accounts by 23 June. This is £85 per child and will be paid to parents of all children currently in receipt of an income-based eligibility to FSM.
Applications for 2023-24
As in previous years we have automatically awarded free school meals to most children of parents who have a current benefit claim. Parents were notified by letter on 6 June. If we already hold their bank account details, we will pay their clothing grant using these details by 21 July.
We include P1-P5 children in the automatic awards – although they receive 'universal' entitlement to free school meals, this does not include free milk, holiday payments or the clothing grant. The automatic award will ensure the parents receive the clothing grant and holiday payments for these children.
Families who did not receive an automatic award letter can apply for 2023-24 and applications are now open. This year we include an option for families who do not receive one of the eligible benefits but who are suffering financial hardhship.
Most free school meals awards will be recorded on SEEMiS during the summer holiday, so parents using Parentpay will likely show a charge when they order a meal for the first week of term – however this should resolve itself by the start of term.
Education Maintenance Allowance
EMA applications for 2023-24 are open. We have also sent out an information letter to all within the eligible age range.
We will confirm the arrangements for payment authorisation after the holidays, but we expect these to be similar to this session.
Next update
We’ll post another update when the new session begins to handover the P1 and S1 process and give you an update on FSM and EMA applications.
If you have any enquiries in the meantime, please continue to use our contact form.