
Data from a freedom of information request on Free School Meals' (FSM) eligibility in the maintained sector made by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) to the Department for Education shows that a growing number of nursery children are eligible for free school meals (FSM), up from 5 per cent in 2017 to 8 per cent in 2021.
The new data covers all maintained sector nurseries - both standalone maintained nurseries and those attached to schools.
Unlike FSM for school-aged children, statistics on nursery FSM eligibility are not publicly available.
Children in private, voluntary and independent settings are not eligible for free school meals.
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