The Standard31 Touko 2022

Why free school meals needs 'urgent' expansion

A group of teaching unions and other organisations are calling on the government to expand the free school meals scheme.

The group, claiming to represent one million school staff, have sent a letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi asking for an “urgent” expansion, to include all children in families receiving universal credit or equivalent benefits.

It’s as recent figures from the Office For National Statistics show the lowest priced items at UK supermarkets went up by around 6 or 7% in the year to April.

Richard Bettsworth from the Association of School and College Leaders explains why they're asking the government for an expansion of free school meals, why it would be a 'modest' investment, and how families, including those not on universal credit, are struggling.

In this episode:

How the current free school meals scheme works (1.27)
What’s prompted calls for an expansion of the free school meals scheme? (2.07)
Levels of poverty in schools (3.28)
Is there a case for all children to get free school meals? (4.43)

PART TWO

Will the government bow to the pressure and expand the scheme? (6.15)
Is the government’s current support enough? (7.19)
Some families who don’t quality for universal credit are struggling (7.58)
How free school meals can benefit children’s education (8.59)

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