A pilot scheme in England automatically enrolling children from low-income families for free school meals has successfully fed 20,000 more children and saved households hundreds of pounds annually. The scheme, led by the University of York, is also generating millions of pounds in extra funding for schools.
For years, children from some of the poorest households across England have been missing out on free school meals because their parents or carers have not enrolled them.For years, children from some of the poorest households across England have been missing out on free school meals because their parents or carers have not enrolled them.A new scheme enabling families to sign up to free school meals has enabled 20,000 more children to be fed.
The scheme is also generating millions of pounds in extra funds for schools – because pupil premium grants, intended to help schools cater for pupils facing disadvantage, are linked to the number of children claiming free school meals, providing £1,455 per primary pupil and £1,035 per secondary pupil.
Peter Lamb, the Labour MP for Crawley, has introduced a private member’s bill, which is due for its second reading in March, in the hope of bringing about a nationwide system in which qualifying families would be automatically registered, and parents would have to opt-out rather than opt-in. Councils taking part in the scheme as of now include County Durham and Middlesbrough in the north-east; Lambeth, in south London; North Yorkshire; and Wakefield in West Yorkshire.
Social Welfare Free School Meals Auto-Enrollment Child Poverty Education Funding Pilot Program
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