Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to identify children who are eligible for free school meals under Pupil Premium funding who are unaware of their eligibility for that funding.

The provision of a free, nutritious meal and the additional funding that free school meal (FSM) pupils attract through the pupil premium means there is a very strong incentive for parents to register for FSM; and the vast majority do so.

We know that schools and local authorities have worked hard to encourage all families to register for FSM and the Department has highlighted and disseminated best practice for other schools to use, including a model a registration form. This is available on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-school-meals-and-pupil-premium-registration-form

The Department is continuing to explore ways of increasing registration rates further.