Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children were entitled to free school meals in each of the last three years.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

The department publishes data on free school meal (FSM) eligibility and the number of eligible pupils taking FSMs on school census day in the annual Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics accredited official statistics, which can be accessed here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics/2024-25.

The latest figures were published in June 2025, and the next figures will be published in summer 2026.