New Free School Meals (FSM) system
If you have already signed up to the new FSM system, please ignore as you don’t need to do anything.
If your school has yet to sign up for the new DfE free school meals system, to avoid losing Free School Meals information, we urge you to follow the instructions below to gain access. From the 9th December 2025 you will lose your access to SOLERO for Year 3+ Pupils. All Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils will remain on SOLERO (no change).
87% of Hertfordshire schools, impacted by the change of systems, have signed up the DFE system and will be able to fully utilise the new DFE system from 9th December 2025.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
A reminder that from 9th December 2025, all schools will lose access to the FSM SOLERO system as it will be decommissioned. Consequently, from this date:
- Schools will no longer have access to SOLERO to view pupil records or verify eligibility.
- The existing parent/carer application portal will no longer be accessible.
- All FSM records and applications will be managed exclusively within the new DfE system.
Please follow the instructions on how to register within the document below.
Should you have any issues when requesting access to the service, please contact the DfE Sign-in Team directly via the contact us form.
Migration of current records is scheduled for the week commencing 10th November 2025, with access available in the new system from 17th November 2025.
All schools received further information about the migration of data in the 10th November schools bulletin.
For additional information or support concerning FSM, please contact us at: CS.Enquiries@hertfordshire.gov.uk.