ECEs welcome support for lunch programme
Early childhood education spokespeople have welcomed a government pledge to feed 10,000 young kids, amid changes to the free school lunch programme.
Associate Education Minister David Seymour previously promised to cut funding to Ka Ora, Ka Ako, prompting a 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 thta the programme would stay for year 0 to 6 pupils, but an alternative scheme would cater for those 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.
KidsCan chief executive and founder Julie Chapman said she was pleased that 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 it had been crying out for decades.
The Auckland centre had been receiving KidsCan food since 2020, and had noticed an “amazing” difference with fully fed children, she said.
But Jones said 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 that the programme would cater for younger children.
However, he was concerned that a bulk purchasing system would inhibit schools’ ability to cater to their specific communities.
Educator union NZEI president Mark Potter said it was “heartening” that community members who defended the programme had been listened to, and vital that 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.”
Students at Hillmorton High School spoke in support of keeping the programme when Seymour visited them in early March.
Principal Ann Brokenshire said she was uncertain if the changes were good for her students without knowing what food would be available.
“At the moment, a number of days a week, our kids get a hot meal – that won’t necessarily be the case.
“The good news is that our students that really do need these lunches are still going to get food.”
Students at schools receiving taxpayer-funded lunches will also continue to be supported by the Kickstart Breakfast and Fruit in Schools programmes.