FOI release

NRPF and Free School Meals

This request was refused in part, so we didn't provide some of the information the requester asked for. This may include information where we can neither confirm nor deny that we hold it.

Case reference FOI2025/01449

Received 24 July 2025

Published 22 August 2025

Request

I am exploring the intersection of child poverty and immigration status, with a particular interest in how children in families with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) are supported. Specifically, I would like to request data on the eligibility and access to Free School Meals (FSM) for children in households affected by the NRPF condition.

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would be grateful if you could provide the following information:

 

1.  Please provide the number of children in your local authority who are living in families with NRPF and who are currently in receipt of Free School Meals, as of the most recent available data.

 

2.  Any available policy or guidance that your local authority uses to determine FSM eligibility for children in NRPF households?

 

3.  The date from which your local authority began recording this category? (if applicable).

 

Response

I am exploring the intersection of child poverty and immigration status, with a particular interest in how children in families with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) are supported. Specifically, I would like to request data on the eligibility and access to Free School Meals (FSM) for children in households affected by the NRPF condition.

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would be grateful if you could provide the following information:

 

1.  Please provide the number of children in your local authority who are living in families with NRPF and who are currently in receipt of Free School Meals, as of the most recent available data.

Answer: 3.

 

2.  Any available policy or guidance that your local authority uses to determine FSM eligibility for children in NRPF households?

Answer: The Service Area have advised we refer to Government guidance for these households.

This information is publically available on the Gov.uk website and can be viewed via the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools-and-local-authorities/providing-free-school-meals-to-families-with-no-recourse-to-public-funds-nrpf

As such we consider this information to be exempt under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 because it is reasonably accessible to you via other means. Please take this letter as a refusal notice under S17 of the Act.

 

3.  The date from which your local authority began recording this category? (if applicable).

Answer: The Service Area have advised, whilst we do not record the category separately, the information above was recorded from 17/09/2024.

 

Documents

There are no documents for this release.

This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.

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