Edinburgh doesn’t publish a set processing time for free school meals applications in the available council information. What it does say is that free school meals start from the date you apply, or from the start of the new school term if you apply during a school holiday.
| What the council says | Timing |
|---|---|
| Free school meals start | From the date you apply |
| If you apply during a school holiday | From the first day of the new school term |
| If you apply after 30 September | Award from the date the application is received |
If you need certainty on when a decision will be made, the published information doesn’t give a turnaround time.