An uplift to the UIFSM per–meal rate has been announced. The rate will increase from £2.41 to £2.53 from the start of the 2023/24 academic year.
Final allocations for 2022/23 and the provisional allocations for 2023/24 are expected shortly. The allocations will include two separate payments, the final 2022/23 allocations at the £2.41 rate and the provisional 2023/24 allocations at the increased rate of £2.53. These allocations are due to be paid to local authorities at the end of June, with eligible academies scheduled to receive the funding on the 10th of July.
The final allocation for 2022/23 will be calculated using the number of pupils recorded as taking a meal in the October 2022 and January 2023 school censuses and subtracting those pupils eligible under free school meal criteria. The allocation will be calculated using the £2.41 rate and will include the provisional allocation paid in June 2022.
The provisional allocation for the academic year 2023/24 will be calculated using the total number of eligible meals taken in 2022/23 multiplied by £2.53 x 190 days and pro-rated for 7 months (September 23- March 24 period).
Full details on the conditions of grant are available here.
If you have any queries, please contact the finance helpline on 0300 1231420 option 1 or email finance@schoolschoice.org
