Education Act 1996

512 Provision of meals etc. at schools maintained by local education authorities. E+W

(1) A local education authority may provide registered pupils at any school maintained by them with milk, meals and other refreshment, either on the school premises or at any place other than the school premises where education is being provided.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), a local education authority shall—

(a) charge for anything provided by them under subsection (1), and

(b) charge every pupil the same price for the same quantity of the same item.

[F1 (3) Subsection (3A) applies in relation to a pupil—

(a) whose parents are in receipt of—

(i) income support;

(ii) an income-based jobseeker’s allowance (payable under the Jobseekers Act 1995); or

(iii) support provided under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; or

(b) who is himself in receipt of income support or an income-based jobseeker’s allowance.

(3A) A] local education authority

[F2 (a) shall so exercise their power under subsection (1) as to ensure that a school lunch is provided for [F3 the pupil]], which shall be provided free of charge, and

(b) if in the exercise of that power they provide him with milk, shall provide it free of charge.

(4) A local education authority shall provide at any school maintained by them such facilities as they consider appropriate for the consumption of any meals or other refreshment brought to the school by registered pupils.

(5) Subsections (1) and (4) shall apply in relation to—

(a) persons, other than pupils, who receive education at a school maintained by a local education authority, and

(b) the authority maintaining the school,

as they apply in relation to pupils at any such school and the authority maintaining the school; and a local education authority shall charge for anything provided under subsection (1) as it so applies, and shall charge every such person the same price for the same quantity of the same item.

[F4 (6) In this section “school lunch”, in relation to a pupil, means food made available for consumption by the pupil as his midday meal on a school day, whether involving a set meal or the selection of items by him or otherwise.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 512(3)(3A) substituted (6.12.1999) for words in s. 512(3) by 1999 c. 33, s. 169(1), Sch. 14 para. 117(a); S.I. 1999/3190, art. 2, Sch.

F2 S. 512(3)(a)(b) substituted (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 115(4) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/1016, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 (which substituted sub-provisions became s. 512(3A)(a)(b) on 6.12.1999 by virtue of the amendment by 1999 c. 33, s. 169, Sch. 14, para. 117(a); S.I. 1999/3190, art. 2, Sch.)

F3 Words in s. 512(3A)(a) substituted (6.12.1999) by 1999 c. 33, s. 169(1), Sch. 14 para. 117(b); S.I. 1999/3190, art. 2, Sch.

F4 S. 512(6) added (1.4.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 115(5)(with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/1016, art. 2(1), Sch. 1.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 512: certain functions transferred (with modifications) (1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/610, arts. 2, 3

C2 S. 512(2)(b) modified (1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/604, art. 4

S. 512(2)(b) modified (1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/610, art. 4

S. 512(2)(b) modified (1.9.1999) by S.I. 1999/1779, art. 4

C3 S. 512(2)(b) applied (with modifications) (1.9.1999) by S.I. 1999/2164, art. 4