Half a million children now eligible for free school meals

The Labour Party has estimated that more than half a million children have grown to be eligible for free school meals throughout the pandemic.

Government data implies that from March to October 2021 over 11,000 children became eligible for free school meals each week. Coupled with Labour Freedom of knowledge data this means over 418,000 children became eligible for free school meals from March to December 2021.

The new analysis has prompted Labour to on the government to extend free school meals within the May half-term and summer holidays. The federal government faced mass opposition, from both inside and outside of Parliament, over its handling of feeding young children during the October half-term, and for the items in the food parcels provided.

Kate Green, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, is now set to call around the government to extend free school meals during next week’s half-term break and also the upcoming summer holiday on the visit to Wolverhampton.

She said: “The Conservatives have failed to aid families throughout this pandemic and therefore are now dependent on local councils to plug gaps in free school meals support throughout the holidays. Feeding children is not a half-time activity. Labour is calling around the Conservatives to trust parents with the money for free school meals so they can buy the food and supplies their children need throughout the whole from the holidays.”