Local councillors sign letter to extend free school meals

Over 750 local councillors have signed a letter to the Prime Minister calling for more support for free school meals so that no child is left behind.

The letter, which was coordinated by the NEU's Councillors’ Network, calls on the Government to ensure children from low-income families have access to Free School Meals (FSM) ahead of the Chancellor's Budget statement this week.

Currently more than 1.7 million children and young people in families in receipt of Universal Credit are missing out on this vital support all year round. Many of these families are surviving on less than £20.27 a day.

Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:  "No child should be going hungry during the day yet millions are. This has a huge impact on their learning and well-being. The pandemic highlighted the desperate situation many families cope with day in day out. We welcome the fact that Government acknowledged Marcus Rashford's powerful campaign and extended the provision of FSM over the school holiday period but that still leaves a great many families struggling without enough money to put food on the table."