School and education leaders urge action on school meals

School and education leaders representing more than a million teachers, support staff and others working with children have written a letter to the government demanding Free School Meals are offered to all children in families receiving universal credit in England.  

The demand from the leaders of 12 different organisations follows on from publication of The Food Foundation’s data this week showing a rapidly worsening crisis with almost 14 million people – four million of them children, living in households where lack of food is an issue.

It is also part of the continuing Feed the Future campaign launched this month to highlight the plight of children living in poverty but not currently eligible for free school meals.

The letter says: "Hunger is now a real issue in our schools. We must make sure that every child has the nutrition they need to be able to learn and thrive…. We urge you to act."

The current restrictive policy means 800,000 children living in poverty in England are not eligible for Free School Meals.

Dr Nick Capstick, Chair of the School Food Review Group and headteacher at a Wiltshire primary school said: “We are now seeing a radical movement from the Just About Managing or JAMs to the “barely surviving families” where food insecurity is a daily challenge and the knock-on effect of food poverty a reality for a whole new cadre of people.”

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “There is clear evidence that providing children with a nutritious meal at lunchtime helps not only with their diet but also academic performance. Free school meal provision can be a lifeline for families. It is therefore concerning that there are so many children living in poverty that are not currently eligible."

The Food Foundation’s Executive Director Anna Taylor said: “The situation is getting worse by the month and as people struggle to pay their energy bills the crisis will deepen over the winter. It is essential the Government acts now to protect the long-term health and prospects of our children.”

The letter was signed by the following people:

Geoff Barton, General Secretary, Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL)
Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretaries, National Education Union (NEU)
Dr Nicholas Capstick, Principal of Drove Primary School, and CEO of White Horse
Federation Trust and Chair, School Food Review Working Group
Leora Cruddas, CEO, Confederation of School Trusts (CST)
Russell Hobby, CEO, Teach First
Emma Knight, CEO, National Governance Association (NGA)
Christina McAnea, General Secretary, UNISON
Stephen Morales, CEO, Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL)
Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary, NASUWT
Steve Taylor, Chair, Queen Street Group and CEO, Cabot Learning Federation
Paul Whiteman, General Secretary, National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT)