Free School Meal Eligibility Data Sharing Changes
Corrected the explanatory text regarding data sharing for free school meal eligibility in England.
This correction slip amends the explanatory note of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 (Commencement No. 1) (England) Regulations 2026.
It clarifies that section 33 of the Act enables social security, asylum support, and tax credit information to be shared with school authorities in England for the purpose of verifying free school meal and milk eligibility.
The document ensures that the legal description accurately reflects that these information-sharing powers apply to school authorities as well as local authorities.
Arguments For
The document indicates that the amendments to section 110 of the 2005 Act are intended to facilitate the sharing of social security, asylum support, and tax credit information.
The regulations state that providing schools with access to this data, alongside local authorities, serves the specific purpose of determining eligibility for free school lunches and milk.
Arguments Against
Legal observers might note that the document is a correction slip rather than the substantive regulations, which may lead to administrative confusion if the original text is not read alongside this amendment.
Privacy advocates could raise concerns regarding the expanded scope of agencies and school authorities authorized to access sensitive social security and tax credit information.
CORRECTION
Page 2, Explanatory Note, fourth paragraph: 'The amendments made by section 33 of the Act to section 110 of the 2005 Act apply in relation to England only. They enable social security (including asylum support) and tax credit information to be shared with the appropriate authority of certain schools (as well as local authorities) for the purpose of determining eligibility for free school lunches and milk.' should read
'The amendments made by section 33 of the Act to section 110 of the 2005 Act enable social security (including asylum support) and tax credit information to be shared with the appropriate authority of certain schools in England (as well as local authorities) for the purpose of determining eligibility for free school lunches and milk.'.
This correction modifies the wording of the explanatory note to clarify the geographic and institutional scope of information sharing.
It specifies that the authority to share social security and tax credit data applies to schools located in England.
The change clarifies that both local authorities and specific school authorities may receive this information to verify if a student qualifies for free meals or milk.
Related
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