This new transitional grant is available for three years, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11.

The Schools Forum agreed on 05 November 2008 the methodology for allocating this grant for years 2008-09 and 2009-10. A review of school lunch costs and take up of school lunches will take place prior to allocating the final year of this grant.

Allocations are calculated as £750 per school plus £20.18 per free school meal plus £5.58 per pupil. The £750 per school figure is based on £500 required for the nutrient analysis (service provided by City College Norwich) and £250 for small items of equipment. The DCSF weighting of 30% for free school meals and 70% for pupils has been used to calculate the £20.18 per free school meal and £5.58 per pupil figures.

This is a ring-fenced grant, which means it cannot be spent on anything other than the conditions stated below.

This grant can only be spent in four ways: -

	Pay for ingredients for school lunch;
	Pay labour costs of catering staff;
	Buy small pieces of kitchen equipment, e.g. microwaves, mixers etc;
	Pay for the nutrient analysis software required to assess whether a menu meets the nutrient based school lunch standards and the expertise to operate the software.

Conditions of the Grant
Local Authorities must consult, and agree with local school forums how the funding should be shared out locally. Local authorities are not required to devolve funding to all schools.
Funding should be allocated on a fair and equitable basis to all those that provide school lunches, whether it is the local authority (through its own service or a central contract), or a school who is providing its own lunches or using a contract.

Where Norfolk County Services are the provider of lunches to a school they will be receiving the funding, (equivalent to that schools allocation), instead of the funding going to the school in the first instance.

www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk