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<p>The Department for Education has previously confirmed that it would be allocating
£150 million in the 2014-15 financial year to support the implementation of the universal
infant free school meals (UIFSM) policy. Local authorities (LAs) are also free to
use their budgets for improvement and maintenance to support this objective. We allocated
£1.4 billion to schools, LAs and the Academies Capital Maintenance Fund for maintenance
and improvement in 2014-15.</p><p>On 6 March we launched a package of implementation
support measures to help schools to provide meals to eligible pupils. This includes
a national UIFSM support service, run by school food experts, which will offer advice
and guidance to schools that need assistance in implementing UIFSM. The support will
include a telephone helpline, the sharing of good practice, and intensive face-to-face
support</p><p>The Department also announced on 6 March that it would be providing
transitional funding to small schools with eligible pupils, worth a minimum of £3,000,
which qualifying schools will be able to use to help them overcome delivery challenges.</p>
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