William Eichler 01 June 2022

Teaching unions call for expansion of free school meal eligibility

Teaching unions call for expansion of free school meal eligibility  image
Image: Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com.

Teaching unions have called on the Government to extend free school meals to all families on Universal Credit (UC).

The unions, who represent over one million people working as teachers, school and trust leaders, support staff, and governors and trustees, have written an open letter warning that the cost of living crisis means that some children are struggling to afford a school meal.

This is impacting the health and ability to learn of pupils, and also threatens the viability of catering services, the unions said.

‘We see the devastating reality of children coming to school unable to afford to buy lunch, because their family circumstances mean they fall outside the restrictive free school meal eligibility criteria,’ they wrote.

‘The Food Foundation’s latest data indicate an estimated 2.6 million children live in households that missed meals or struggled to access healthy food during April. Excluding so many vulnerable children is a real barrier to learning and must be urgently addressed.’

The unions, including the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), the National Education Union (NEU), and the Confederation of School Trusts (CST), said the ideal solution was to provide free school meals to all pupils as happens in Scotland and Wales.

However, they said that the ‘immediate first step’ should be expanding free school meal eligibility criteria to all families receiving UC or an equivalent benefit.

‘We, as representatives of our nation’s school professionals, believe this is a quick, effective and highly targeted way of delivering on the levelling up agenda and will support schools in delivering vital educational outcomes for all children,’ they wrote.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Head of Democratic Services, Elections & Monitoring Officer

Harborough District Council
Grade 12 £67,236 – £71,223 plus £3000pa Statutory Officer Allowance
We are looking for an accomplished and proactive leader for our vacant post of Head of Democratic Services & Elections Market Harborough, Leicestershire
Recuriter: Harborough District Council

Social Worker

Durham County Council
£35,412 - £39,152 (pre-progression) / £40,777 - £45,091 (post-progression)
We are looking for social workers who have completed the assessed and supported year in employment to join our Families First teams, working with our Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Social Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 9 £35,412 - £39,152 (Pre-Progression) / Grade 11 £40,777 - £45,091 (Post-Progression)
Are you a nurturing social worker passionate about supporting parents so that children can remain with their birth family?     This could be the right Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Administrative Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 4 £25,583 - £26,824
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Administrative Officer to join our busy, friendly team, supporting Children and Young People’s Services. 1 x Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Lunchtime Play Worker

Durham County Council
£24,796 pro rata
Lunchtime Play Worker Grade 1 £24,796 pro rata Part Time - 6.25 hour per week, Monday – Friday
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner