Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of free school meal provision in special education schools.

39.7% of pupils with an education, health and care plan and 36.4% of pupils with special educational needs support were eligible for free school meals (FSM) in 2022. More information can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/special-educational-needs-in-england/2021-22.

The Department spends over £1 billion annually delivering FSM to pupils in schools. Around 1.9 million disadvantaged pupils are eligible for FSM, as well as an additional 1.25 million infants who receive a free meal under the Universal Infant Free School Meal policy. Together, this provides support to over one third of all pupils in schools.

The Department is investing up to £30 million in the national school breakfast programme until the end of the 2024 summer term. This funding will support up to 2,500 schools in disadvantaged areas, meaning that thousands of children from low-income families will be offered free, nutritious breakfasts. The Department is also investing over £200 million a year in the Holiday Activities and Food programme, which provides free holiday club places with healthy meals and enriching activities to children from low-income families.