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

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 children living in poverty who don’t currently qualify.” Other organisations signed up to the Feed the Future campaign include School Food Matters, Chefs in Schools, Bite Back 2030, Sustain, Child Poverty Action Group, Impact on Urban Health, National Education Union and Jamie Oliver Ltd. ‘Free school meals should be a human right, not a benefit’ Louise Nichols, executive headteacher of a federation of primary schools in Hackney, east London Mandeville Primary and Kingsmead Primary, Hackney Pupils: 370 and 240 Free school meals: 62 per cent / 58 per cent Pupils in poverty but not on free school meals: 38 per cent / 42 per cent “We have two schools within a few miles of each other, both with a similar poverty profile, but in the one, Mandeville Primary, we provide universal free school meals, while in the other, Kingsmead Primary, we do not. Free school meals should be seen as a human right, not a benefit.” ‘We have children breaking down and crying because of hunger’ Nicholas Capstick, headteacher Drove Primary School, Swindon Pupils: 800 Free school meals: 29 per cent Pupils in poverty but not on free school meals: 54 per cent “Just over half our pupils do not get free school meals but would be defined as living in poverty. The government talks about levelling up, but what can be more important than making sure our children are fed?” ‘Government ministers should ask themselves: what would you want for your child?’ Sarah Beveridge, headteacher Leyburn Primary, North Yorkshire Pupils: 200 Free school meals: 11 per cent Pupils in poverty but not on free school meals: 15 per cent “We don’t have a lot of children on free school meals but we do have a high number of parents who are struggling with their household bills and don’t want to admit they’re not fine because of pride - but being unable to fund school trips or update school uniforms are tell-tale signs.