Schools have been reminded they must make “reasonable adjustments” to ensure eligible disabled pupils can access their free school meals entitlement.
The Department for Education has also updated guidance to set out an expectation that councils “consider making equivalent food provision” available to children in out-of-school provision, following threats of legal action.
A group of families initiated judicial review proceedings after their children were denied free meals because they were too disabled to attend state schools.
These children are deemed to be in “education other than at school”, meaning they are in provision paid-for by their local authority because it is inappropriate for them to be in school.
