Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children are currently being schooled at home on a permanent basis because they are not permitted to attend school for medical or other reasons; if he will make it his policy to provide Free School Meal vouchers to families of children who would qualify for FSM support if their children were permitted to attend school.

The department does not hold information on the number of children who are currently being schooled at home on a permanent basis because they are not permitted to attend school for medical or other reasons.

If a child is attending alternative provision in the form of home tuition and is currently a registered pupil at a school maintained by a local authority, the local authority has an obligation to provide free school meals to any child who is eligible for and has submitted a claim for free school meals.