Hampshire County Council
Schools Forum
Item 4d
11 December 2009
Increased free school meal numbers – budget impacts
Report of the Director of Childrens Services and the County
Treasurer
Contact: Thomas Whiffen, 01962 846287 thomas.whiffen@hants.gov.uk
1
Summary
1.1
This paper identifies recent trends in free school meals (FSM) eligibility and take
up. It then looks at how free school meals numbers are reflected in the
calculation of school budget shares and what the increased numbers might mean
in budgetary terms.
1.2
Currently it is the increased takeup of free school meals in primary and special
schools which is the most clear cost pressure and this amounts to an estimated
£170,000.
1.3
It is for Schools Forum to consider how to treat the impact of increased free
school meals numbers within the 2010/11 budget.
2
The use of free school meals information in school budget shares
2.1
The number of pupils eligible for free school meals (eFSM) is used in four parts
of budget shares:
2.2

The actual provision of free meals within the Management Partnership
heading for catering

Within the Personalised Learning deprivation/disadvantage calculations

Explicitly within the funding for special education needs (SEN) staffing

As an element within supplies and services funding.
The catering provision of free school meals is based on an amount per eFSM
pupil which implies a certain take up assumption as the amounts are less than the
full £380 per year see Table 1.
Table 1
No of eligible
pupils
£ per eFSM
pupil
Implied
% take up
Primary
8,459
£303.49
79.9%
511
£326.84
86.0%
4,750
£289.42
76.2%
13,720
£299.49
78.8%
Special
Secondary
Total/ average
1
2.3
The funding for personalised learning includes £45.80 per primary eFSM pupil
and £43.92 per special eFSM pupil up to Year 6.
2.4
The personalised learning disadvantage calculations for secondary school pupils
and for special school pupils from Year 7 are based on an index combining eFSM
and Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) data. However in these calculations the
eFSM numbers are used to calculate a school’s relative disadvantage and
providing any increases are felt uniformly across schools the index is not affected
by higher total eFSM numbers.
2.5
The SEN staffing includes amounts directly linked to eFSM numbers as shown in
Table 2 below.
Table 2
Infant
£ per eFSM within SEN staffing
Junior
£149
Secondary
£99
£110.50
2.6
Whilst eFSM numbers are used within the calculation of SEN Unit C funding
this is as part of an index similar to the one in 2.4 above.
2.7
In the supplies and services headings eFSM pupil numbers are funded as follows:
Table 3
Primary
£ per eFSM within supplies
Secondary
£11.28
£27.32
3
Recent evidence on free school meals
3.1
The worsening economic situation has a two fold effect. The numbers eligible for
free school meals (eFSM) will increase and the percentage of those eligible who
choose to take an actual meal will also increase.
3.2
The autumn term 2009 numbers of eFSM show significant increases above the
numbers in spring term 2009. It is the numbers in each January, the spring term
numbers, which get used in the following years budget share. The rate and
pattern of increase in eFSM numbers has not been consistent with primary and
special schools seeing a big increase between spring and summer terms and
secondary schools seeing the increase between summer and autumn terms.
3.3
Predicting future trends is difficult but it is unlikely that numbers will fall below
the current ones for some time. This known change would form a reasonable
planning basis, with the position being reviewed during 2010/11. Table 4 shows
the change since January 2009.
Table 4
Primary
Special
Secondary
Total/ average
FSM eligible pupils (eFSM)
Jan. 2009
Oct. 2009
Change
8,459
8,880
+5%
511
541
+6%
4,750
5,397
+14%
13,720
14,818
+ 8%
2
3.4
The evidence available on Free School Meals takeup is clearer in respect of
primary and special schools whereas the cash cafeteria provision in secondary
schools make it more difficult to be sure. The available evidence shows primary
and special schools taken together at 85% takeup of eligible numbers as at
January as compared with an historic average in the 72% to 76% range. This level
is therefore above the budget assumption shown in Table 1.In secondary schools
takeup seems to be at about 72%, compared with a historic 65% to 68% and this
is still below the budget assumption.
4
Treatment of the cost effects
4.1
The usual approach to variations in numbers of pupils eligible for free school
meals has been to adjust the units of resource slightly as these numbers have
been used as a distribution mechanism. This approach could still be adopted with
the clear exception of the takeup of free school meals in primary and special
schools where the costs have to be incurred and the current and the estimated
position is above budget values.
4.2
Accordingly the main budget paper specifically recognises this cost of £170,000.
It does not recognise any effects elsewhere as the link between the change in the
indicator and any increase in the costs is less clear.
4.3
As the eligibility and takeup patterns become clearer during 2010 it would be
appropriate to review the position.
5
Recommendations
5.1
Schools Forum is recommended to reflect the £170,000 impact of higher free
school meals takeup in primary and special schools in its budget proposals for
2010/11
5.2
Schools Forum is recommended to consider whether it would wish to make any
other budget proposals for 2010/11 in view of the higher levels of free school
meals eligibility.
3