Free school dinner need is on the rise
TEACHING UNION SAYS SYSTEM IS NOT PICKING UP EVERY CASE
THOUSANDS more children in Staffordshire are becoming eligible for free school meals.
A teaching union says it’s “shocking” that the numbers needing statefunded lunches continues to rise, but warns they’re still not reaching all those who need them.
Across the area, 35,773 state school pupils were eligible for free school meals (FSMS) this January, Department for Education (DFE) data shows. That was up from the 32,115 counted the previous year and well above the 20,414 recorded in 2016, the earliest year with available figures.
In Staffordshire, the number rose by 12.9 per cent to 21,616 (17.6 per cent of all pupils), while in Stoke-ontrent the number rose by 9.2 per cent to 14,157 (34.8 per cent). Nationally, the figure rose by 160,000 over the year, to around 1.9 million (22.5 per cent). Some of the rise is due to rules meaning children can continue to claim free meals even if a change in their family circumstances would otherwise stop them being eligible.
But the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) said the pandemic is also driving the increase, as more families are affected by illness and job losses.
Julie Mcculloch, director of policy at ASCL, said: “It is shocking that in one of the world’s wealthiest economies we are seeing a very significant increase in the number of children eligible for FSMS, and therefore living in extremely difficult financial circumstances.
“Even more shocking is the fact that current eligibility does not even capture all the children who need help. Free school meal eligibility now applies to 22.5 per cent of pupils, but we know that the level of child poverty is about 30 per cent.”
ASCL and other organisations are campaigning for all children from families on Universal Credit to be able to get free meals. Currently, a household on Universal Credit in England must earn less than £7,400 a year. It is hard to work out how many more children in Staffordshire would benefit from free meals if they were made more widely available.
Department for Work and Pensions figures show there were at least 66,444 children in families on Universal Credit in February. However, that will include some very young children and some over-16s who would not be able to claim free school meals.
It will also include children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 who are already eligible for free meals, as the offer is universal for those age groups, regardless of family income. The Child Poverty Action Group estimates that 800,000 children living in poverty across England are missing out on FSMS due to restrictive eligibility criteria.
A Department of Education spokesperson said: “Over 1.9 million children are now eligible for free school meals and we communicate regularly with schools and councils so they know what is available for these children. We know millions of families are struggling with the rising cost of living, which is why we are providing over £37 billion to target those with the greatest need. “Our National School Breakfast Programme and the Holiday Activities and Food programme are also benefiting children across the country.”
It is shocking that in one of the world’s wealthiest economies we are seeing a very significant increase in the number of children eligible for FSMS