Education Act 1996

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

(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.

(3) In relation to a pupil whose parents are in receipt of income support or of an income-based jobseeker’s allowance (payable under the [1995 c. 18.] Jobseekers Act 1995) or who is himself in receipt of that benefit, a local education authority—

(a) shall so exercise their power under subsection (1) as to ensure that such provision is made for him in the middle of the day as appears to them to be requisite, and

(b) shall make that provision for him 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.