AQW 15174/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 17/09/2024
Answered On Date: 30/09/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education for an update on initiatives to streamline and simplify the application process for free school meals.

Answer:

The EA continues to improve the free school meals (FSM) application process and additional measures implemented this year have further streamlined and simplified this process. These measures have seen a higher number of applications being submitted ahead of the start of the school year in 2024/25 than in 2023/24 and significantly improved EA processing times. This has enabled more pupils to access free school meals from the start of the academic year.

The current processing time for FSM applications made to the EA is two working days, a significant improvement on the twelve day time at the same point in 2023. The number of telephone calls and e-mails received by the EA’s FSM helpdesk during this application period has also decreased since last year and response times to both have improved.

The measures implemented by the EA include FSM applications now being made through the EA Connect online portal. EA Connect offers a more user-friendly and integrated platform for parents.

For those applying for FSM due to a special diet designation, an online form is now able to be used replacing the paper form used in previous years. Special diet applications are also no longer required to include supporting medical evidence, thus simplifying the process for parents and enabling a faster processing time.

The EA has also intensified its promotional efforts to increase awareness of FSM and how parents may apply. This includes a number of tailored communications to families who were entitled to FSM in the previous school year but had yet to apply. The EA has also issued letters to schools and other key stakeholders that included a social media toolkit to encourage families to apply.

The EA has also continued to increase awareness of FSM through a press release and social media as well as communications to other organisations such as public libraries and Sure Start settings. Improved materials on the EA website have also provided more easily accessed, clearer information and support materials for parents such as a sample Universal Credit statement and proof of benefits letter.

Arrangements are also in place with the Department for Communities (DfC) whereby if a FSM application is submitted to the EA for the second time with incorrect Universal Credit documentation, DfC is asked to confirm entitlement rather than it being returned to the applicant. There has been a 63% reduction in the number of such cases since last year indicating that families are having fewer issues with the submission of the relevant documentation.

My officials also continue to engage with EA and DfC colleagues as well as counterparts across the UK in exploring how the FSM application process can be further streamlined to ensure families are able to access FSM as easily and early as possible. This includes exploring options that could reduce the instances where benefits-based evidence needs to be provided by applicants and which could potentially enable the EA to implement a form of auto-enrolment for FSM.