Two-thirds of MPs would back free school meals extension, poll finds
2 years, 1 month ago

Two-thirds of MPs would back free school meals extension, poll finds

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Rishi Sunak has come under increasing pressure to extend free school meals to all children whose families receive universal credit, as new polling suggested two-thirds of MPs back the policy. Asked last week if the low threshold for eligibility will be changed, the education secretary said that “these things are always kept under review”, adding: “The reality is you have to wait for the autumn Budget for any answers on funding.” open image in gallery “More than one-third of children now are eligible for or receive free school meals or food in schools. So I think that’s a lot of children,” Ms Keegan told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, adding that the number of children with access to free school meals had risen by 300,000 in recent years. Speaking last week at a Feed the Future event, Tory former health minister Lord Bethell said “there are very strong moral and social arguments” for extending the policy to all in need, adding that free school meals “remove a whole set of traumas that many children have around hunger” and food security.

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History of this topic

Can you guess the dish? Furious parents blast school dinners they 'wouldn't feed their dog' with 'fossilised' sausage rolls, dry burgers and burnt paninis...have YOUR children been served worse?
3 months ago

Can you guess the dish? Furious parents blast school dinners they 'wouldn't feed their dog' with 'fossilised' sausage rolls, dry burgers and burnt paninis...have YOUR children been served worse?

Daily Mail  

Furious parents have branded their children's school meal 'shocking and disgusting' and claimed they are paying '£30 a week for them to be fed next to nothing'. Other parents claimed they would serve better food to their dogs The school has apologised and cited supplier issues One more said: 'Looks very poor, it's not hard to make nice food. Roast …

Breakfast clubs in primary schools ‘an investment in our young people’ – Reeves
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Breakfast clubs in primary schools ‘an investment in our young people’ – Reeves

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Today, I can announce that that will start in …

School leaders call on ministers to scrap ‘poverty-producing’ two-child benefit cap
4 months, 1 week ago

School leaders call on ministers to scrap ‘poverty-producing’ two-child benefit cap

The Independent  

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Watch: MPs arrive at Downing Street ahead of Starmer’s cabinet meeting
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Watch: MPs arrive at Downing Street ahead of Starmer’s cabinet meeting

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Watch again as MPs arrived …

Labour promises school breakfast clubs will save parents £400 a year
6 months, 4 weeks ago

Labour promises school breakfast clubs will save parents £400 a year

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Labour has said its commitment to delivering free breakfast clubs …

Breakfast and lunch programs in schools are helping families battling the cost of living
7 months, 1 week ago

Breakfast and lunch programs in schools are helping families battling the cost of living

ABC  

In a warehouse next to Adelaide Airport, four retired men are scurrying like ants. "It sort of introduces you to another world," said former Adelaide Crows football manager and volunteer John Reid. "When I come into the breakfast club all my worries go away because I've got people to talk to," she said. "Everyone right now is struggling with inflation, …

Some councils still don’t have childcare funding in place, admits education secretary
11 months ago

Some councils still don’t have childcare funding in place, admits education secretary

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Some local authorities have yet to confirm funding for childcare providers …

Minnesota program to provide free school meals for all kids is costing the state more than expected
1 year ago

Minnesota program to provide free school meals for all kids is costing the state more than expected

Associated Press  

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota’s program to provide free school breakfasts and lunches to all students regardless of income is costing the state more than expected because of a jump in demand. Tim Walz signed the legislation last spring, advocates said the free meals would ease stresses on parents and help reduce childhood poverty while lifting the stigma on kids …

Schools providing ‘fourth emergency service’ feeding families in need – study
1 year, 1 month ago

Schools providing ‘fourth emergency service’ feeding families in need – study

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The spread of charitable food …

One in four teachers hands out food to children due to welfare concerns – survey
1 year, 4 months ago

One in four teachers hands out food to children due to welfare concerns – survey

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. FareShare, a charity which tackles hunger and food waste, is calling on the Government …

Starmer declines to commit to free school meals as he sets out education reforms
1 year, 6 months ago

Starmer declines to commit to free school meals as he sets out education reforms

The Independent  

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Jewish pupils eating just a bagel for lunch amid kosher crisis, Parliament told
1 year, 7 months ago

Jewish pupils eating just a bagel for lunch amid kosher crisis, Parliament told

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Some Jewish children are surviving on just a bagel for …

Free school lunch works — but rightwingers don’t care about outcomes
1 year, 9 months ago

Free school lunch works — but rightwingers don’t care about outcomes

Raw Story  

“If a child is on the verge of starvation, you must call CPS, not spend hundreds of millions on disproportionately unhealthy lunches, a huge percentage of which are discarded,” conservative pundit Ben Shapiro told California Congressman Ted Lieu on Twitter. There’s a great deal of evidence that free school lunches reduce student hunger and improve children’s health. School lunches have …

School meals ‘should be free for all pupils just like desks and chairs’
1 year, 10 months ago

School meals ‘should be free for all pupils just like desks and chairs’

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy All children …

Food Poverty Haunts UK: How 4 million children are going hungry
1 year, 10 months ago

Food Poverty Haunts UK: How 4 million children are going hungry

Firstpost  

A report by The Food Foundation think tank has revealed that nearly four million children in the UK experienced food poverty in January this year. This comes as the demand for expanding free school meals to pupils is rising in the country amid a cost-of-living crisis Nearly 4 million children in the United Kingdom experience food poverty, new data has …

Free school meals for all primary school pupils in London, Sadiq Khan to announce
1 year, 10 months ago

Free school meals for all primary school pupils in London, Sadiq Khan to announce

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The mayor of …

Scrapping tax cut for banks could feed 1.9 million children, Rishi Sunak told
2 years ago

Scrapping tax cut for banks could feed 1.9 million children, Rishi Sunak told

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. If Rishi Sunak’s government were to ditch the tax cuts …

UK cost-of-living woes stir push for more free school meals
2 years, 1 month ago

UK cost-of-living woes stir push for more free school meals

Associated Press  

BIRMINGHAM, England — As the school bell rings, dozens of children begin filing into the canteen at Hillstone Primary School. During the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Food Foundation and soccer star Marcus Rashford persuaded Britain’s government to provide free meals to children in poverty over the school holidays. The Department of Education said the government understands …

No coats, no food – schoolchildren have time-travelled to Victorian Britain
2 years, 1 month ago

No coats, no food – schoolchildren have time-travelled to Victorian Britain

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Some 52 per cent of heads …

Children unable to afford lunch in more than half of state schools, survey says
2 years, 1 month ago

Children unable to afford lunch in more than half of state schools, survey says

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It’s a scandal that in …

‘Generosity and dedication’: Low-earning school staff buying food for hungry pupils
2 years, 1 month ago

‘Generosity and dedication’: Low-earning school staff buying food for hungry pupils

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Its findings come as The Independent’s …

Free school meals criteria ‘always under review’, minister says
2 years, 1 month ago

Free school meals criteria ‘always under review’, minister says

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The criteria …

Henry Dimbleby: We have children breaking down and crying because of hunger
2 years, 2 months ago

Henry Dimbleby: We have children breaking down and crying because of hunger

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It’s hard to perform academically or …

Families on free school meals face ‘patchwork’ support over October half-term
2 years, 2 months ago

Families on free school meals face ‘patchwork’ support over October half-term

The Independent  

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Experts warn of major impact on children’s health without proper nutrition at school
2 years, 2 months ago

Experts warn of major impact on children’s health without proper nutrition at school

The Independent  

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Number of children arriving at school hungry on the rise, teachers warn
2 years, 2 months ago

Number of children arriving at school hungry on the rise, teachers warn

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The number of children arriving at school hungry has risen …

Health chief calls for free school meals for all to end ‘disturbing’ food poverty
2 years, 2 months ago

Health chief calls for free school meals for all to end ‘disturbing’ food poverty

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The government must offer all children free school meals to address …

It shouldn’t be left to chefs like me to feed hungry children
2 years, 2 months ago

It shouldn’t be left to chefs like me to feed hungry children

The Independent  

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‘It’s too expensive to eat lunch and feed my children’: The rise of the school food bank
2 years, 2 months ago

‘It’s too expensive to eat lunch and feed my children’: The rise of the school food bank

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The food bank helps me get by.” Behind her stands Maryam, 38, also a …

Children face a hunger crisis – the government needs to act by providing more free school meals
2 years, 2 months ago

Children face a hunger crisis – the government needs to act by providing more free school meals

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The government should immediately prioritise the introduction of free school meals for the 800,000 …

The Independent is calling for free school meals for all children in poverty
2 years, 2 months ago

The Independent is calling for free school meals for all children in poverty

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. So it is with great pride …

Jamie Oliver says ‘children coming to school with empty lunchboxes’ in call free meals plea
2 years, 2 months ago

Jamie Oliver says ‘children coming to school with empty lunchboxes’ in call free meals plea

The Independent  

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Jamie Oliver denies being part of the ‘anti-growth coalition’
2 years, 2 months ago

Jamie Oliver denies being part of the ‘anti-growth coalition’

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Jamie Oliver has denied being part of the “anti-growth coalition” …

Dinner lady forced to deny children school food because ‘there’s no money’
2 years, 4 months ago

Dinner lady forced to deny children school food because ‘there’s no money’

The Independent  

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As students go back to school, many face a lunch bill for the first time in 2 years
2 years, 4 months ago

As students go back to school, many face a lunch bill for the first time in 2 years

NPR  

As students go back to school, many face a lunch bill for the first time in 2 years Enlarge this image toggle caption Lisa Rathke/AP Lisa Rathke/AP BOISE, Idaho — Lunchtime on the first day of school at Mountain View Elementary earlier this month brought the familiar bustle of students scurrying to find their assigned table in the cafeteria while …

Families ‘face grim choices’ as summer holidays mean weeks without free school meals
2 years, 5 months ago

Families ‘face grim choices’ as summer holidays mean weeks without free school meals

The Independent  

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New Tory education minister attacked free school meals as ‘nationalising children’
2 years, 5 months ago

New Tory education minister attacked free school meals as ‘nationalising children’

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Boris Johnson's new education minister argued against free school meals and …

Minister recognises schools are ‘not immune’ from rising food costs
2 years, 6 months ago

Minister recognises schools are ‘not immune’ from rising food costs

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Mr Quince said the Government …

Congress approves free student meal extension through summer
2 years, 6 months ago

Congress approves free student meal extension through summer

Associated Press  

Congress passed a bill Friday that aims to keep up the expanded, pandemic-era distribution of free meals for all students this summer. “Our action today staves off a dangerous hunger cliff: ensuring universal free meals for all children throughout this summer, while helping schools keep up supply chain snags and rising costs for the upcoming school year,” House Speaker Nancy …

Mother’s anger as daughter’s school starts charging £2 for free breakfast club
2 years, 6 months ago

Mother’s anger as daughter’s school starts charging £2 for free breakfast club

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy An outraged mother has threatened to change her child’s school …

Sadiq Khan backs universal free school meals for primary school pupils
2 years, 6 months ago

Sadiq Khan backs universal free school meals for primary school pupils

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Sadiq Khan has …

‘Four chips on a plate’: Boost school meal funding, ministers told, as children ‘getting smaller portions’
2 years, 6 months ago

‘Four chips on a plate’: Boost school meal funding, ministers told, as children ‘getting smaller portions’

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. I’m looking at cheaper alternatives.” A headteacher from North Yorkshire, Matt Davies, said that schools …

School dinner choice is slashed and staff told to stockpile 'long-life food' amid supply fears
3 years, 3 months ago

School dinner choice is slashed and staff told to stockpile 'long-life food' amid supply fears

Daily Mail  

School dinner choices are being slashed and staff advised to stockpile essential food supplies amid fears suppliers will struggle to keep children properly fed this winter. Meanwhile, food wholesaler BidFood has warned that it is experiencing 'significant' supply pressures and struggling to recruit HGV drivers, blaming the issues on the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit. Canteen supplier ISS has reportedly told …

Free school meals for all children can improve kids’ health
3 years, 5 months ago

Free school meals for all children can improve kids’ health

Salon  

Recognizing that millions of U.S. children are at risk of hunger, Maine and California have approved funding to offer free school meals to all students within their state. The Universal School Meals Program Act would provide free healthy meals and snacks to all children in public and nonprofit private schools regardless of income. When children return to schools in the …

Boris Johnson ‘commits to review’ of free school meal parcels in Marcus Rashford phone call
3 years, 11 months ago

Boris Johnson ‘commits to review’ of free school meal parcels in Marcus Rashford phone call

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Anti-poverty campaigner Marcus Rashford has spoken to Boris Johnson about his …

Free school meals: Gavin Williamson ‘absolutely disgusted’ by poor standard of food parcels
3 years, 11 months ago

Free school meals: Gavin Williamson ‘absolutely disgusted’ by poor standard of food parcels

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Education secretary Gavin Williamson has said he was “absolutely disgusted” by …

Matt Hancock unable to say if he regrets voting against free school meals after now welcoming them, in uncomfortable interview
3 years, 11 months ago

Matt Hancock unable to say if he regrets voting against free school meals after now welcoming them, in uncomfortable interview

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Matt Hancock told the show’s co-hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid that he was “really …

Chartwells’ chequered past: Free school meals firm has a history of scandals
3 years, 11 months ago

Chartwells’ chequered past: Free school meals firm has a history of scandals

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Catering company Chartwells has been …

Hungry children didn’t drive this country into the ground – they deserve so much better than the meagre food parcels offered by our government
3 years, 11 months ago

Hungry children didn’t drive this country into the ground – they deserve so much better than the meagre food parcels offered by our government

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Midday assistants on furlough or poverty …

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