ECEs welcome support for lunch programme
Early childhood education spokespeople have welcomed a government pledge to feed 10,000 young children, amid changes to the free school lunch programme.
Associate Education Minister David Seymour previously promised to cut funding to Ka Ora, Ka Ako, prompting backlash from students, staff and unions.
The programme supplies a million free lunches weekly to more than 1000 schools, which order from 156 suppliers. It was allotted $323 million in Budget 2023.
Seymour announced yesterday the programme would stay for year 0 to 6 pupils, but an alternative scheme would cater for students in year 7 and above, saving $107m.
Schools with older students would order from a central government source during 2025 and 2026, allowing more flexibility and for parents to opt out, while the programme was fully redesigned.
A new early childhood scheme would be established next year with $4m of savings to feed 10,000 children aged 2 to 5 at early learning centres in need.
“Forget quinoa, couscous, and hummus; it will be more like sandwiches and fruit,” Seymour said of the proposed meals.
KidsCan chief executive and founder Julie Chapman was pleased younger children would be included as “hunger from poverty doesn’t begin at 5”. Early years were crucial to brain development and “the right food plays a big part”, she said.
KidsCan currently feeds 205 early childhood centres, but has 150 on its waiting list – about 5000 children.
As such, Chapman said KidsCan would be trying to secure the new programme’s contract. “Food insecurity has skyrocketed over the past three years, and we aim to alleviate hunger for as many kids as we can.”
Nga Taonga Aroha early childhood centre manager Emma-Jane Jones said any money coming into the sector was fantastic as they had been crying out for decades.
The Auckland centre had been receiving KidsCan food since 2020 and noticed an “amazing” difference with fully fed children.
But Jones said they had to wait a year and a half, and times were only getting tougher.
“I know the cost of living is only getting harder and it’s not even concentrated into areas like ours now; people all over are struggling.”
Early Childhood New Zealand chief executive Kathy Wolfe said the announcement would bring “huge relief to families and early childhood providers”.
She hoped the Government would extend the programme beyond 10,000 children, but was wary of how services would be selected, as was Early Childhood Council chief executive Simon Laube.
“With many centres already providing food, it’s important this new programme doesn’t confuse or disrupt what’s already working well,” Laube said.
Post Primary Teachers’ Association president Chris Abercombie was pleased the programme would cater for younger children.
“Ensuring that one of kids’ most basic needs – to be fed properly – is met each day at school gives them a much better chance of being able to learn and achieve.”
However, he was concerned a bulk purchasing system would inhibit schools’ ability to cater to their specific communities.
Educator union NZEI president Mark Potter said it was “heartening” community members who defended the programme had been listened to, and vital they continued to be heard during the full rework.
“It cannot be a one-size-fits all approach dictated by commercial imperatives rather than those who know what’s really needed on the ground.”
Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said she was concerned the programme would create more waste, not less.
“This model they have suggested is where we found waste happens – because all of the food is the same and packaged the same, however not all kids are the same.
“The opt-out model also concerns me, as we know it will create stigma in school that sees the very kids who need the lunches choosing not to have them.”
Students at schools receiving taxpayerfunded lunches will also continue to be supported by the Kickstart Breakfast and Fruit in Schools programmes.