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<p>We allocate £600 million per year to ensure that 1.4 million infants enjoy a free,
healthy and nutritious meal at lunchtime following the introduction of the universal
infant free school meals (UIFSM) policy in 2014. Now that schools are reopen to all
children, those in reception, year 1 and year 2 in England’s state-funded schools
will receive a free meal. During the period in which schools were largely closed,
the government continued to provide support to those eligible for benefits related
free school meals (FSM) through the National Voucher Scheme.</p><p>Now that schools
and their kitchens are open again, we expect them to provide free school meals to
all those entitled to benefits related FSM and UIFSM to those children attending school.
If a child needs to miss school for COVID-19 related matters, such as self-isolation
due to a case of COVID-19, then we have asked schools to provide meals to those entitled
to benefits related FSM.</p>
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