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<p>When the government introduced the new free school meals (FSM) eligibility criteria
in April 2018, they introduced transitional protections that would apply during the
universal credit roll out period to ensure that no child would lose their eligibility
to FSM. These protections were enacted in our Commencement Order with the end date
of March 2022, the date the rollout was then due to end.</p><p>When the end date moved
to March 2023, the government confirmed that it had extended the end date of the protections
to match this. Whilst the rollout is in progress, the government will continue to
keep its guidance under review and will make any necessary changes ahead of March
2023.</p><p>The extended date of March 2023 has been confirmed in the school census
guidance available here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1047457/2021-22_School_Census_Business_and_Technical_Specification_Version_1.7_publishing.pdf"
target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1047457/2021-22_School_Census_Business_and_Technical_Specification_Version_1.7_publishing.pdf</a>
and is also available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals</a>.</p>
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