Half a million children became eligible for free school meals since Covid

Analysis by the Labour Party estimates that over half a million children became eligible for free school meals during the first year of the pandemic.

Government data shows that from March to October 2020 over 11,000 children became eligible for free school meals each week. Combined with Labour FOI data this suggests over 418,000 children became eligible for free school meals from March – December 2020.

Kate Green MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, will call on the Government to extend free school meals during next week’s half-term break and the upcoming summer holiday on a visit to Wolverhampton.

Currently, the Conservatives’ Holiday Activities and Food Programme proposes providing food and activities to children eligible for free school meals during just half the summer holiday, leaving children at risk of going hungry for half the summer break.

Labour is calling on the Government to set-up cash transfers for free school meals ensuring families get the full value of this support and enabling parents to buy the food and supplies that are right for their children.

Kate Green MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, said: “Labour is calling on 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 of the holidays.”