Online Free School Meals: a revolution in public service delivery

Outcomes

Online Free School Meals delivers an ‘end-to-end’ service enabling parents/carers to apply online for free school meals quickly and easily. Incorporating real-time eligibility checking, parents/carers and local authorities are immediately informed of eligibility. With automated notification to schools, children can be provided with a free school meal as early as the same or following day.

Parents/carers are feeling the benefits of the new system:

“I wouldn’t have bothered with the old system; it is so easy this way.”

“Very very good I'm not good at reading and writing and I found it so easy thank you”

Local authority service managers are also enthusiastic:

“The Online Free School Meals project is a revolution in public service delivery.”

“Of all the systems I’ve worked on, this is the only one that really makes a difference.”

The original objective to streamline the application process resulted in two additional innovations: automatic renewals and improved audit process. With use of ‘informed consent’ and the Department for Education Free School Meals Eligibility Checking Service batch process, parents/carers can have their records checked automatically and effortlessly, preventing the need for regular reapplications. Local authorities can also audit the free school meal service using the batch eligibility checking service process which prevents parents/carers building up debts when their circumstances change and reduces the costs and unpleasantness associated with chasing up debts from financially disadvantaged families.

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Amanda Derrick