How many of the children currently eligible for free school meals are entitled due to transitional protection, and how many are due to a change in family circumstances leading to them becoming eligible, since the last pupil level annual school census data?
The provisional Pupil Level Annual School Census (PLSAC) from April 2021 indicated that 108,203 pupils were eligible for free school meals or were transitionally protected at April 2021, with 8,030 of these pupils being transitionally protected only. This is up from 90,662 pupils eligible for free school meals or transitionally protected at January 2020, with 4,931 of these pupils being transitionally protected only.
19,704 pupils were eligible for free school meals at April 2021 who were not eligible for free school meals or transitionally protected at January 2020. A further 1,634 pupils were transitionally protected at April 2021 who were not eligible for free school meals or transitionally protected at January 2020.
PLASC data for 2021 is provisional and will be revised in September.