Thank you for contacting me about the campaign to provide free school meals to all children in educational settings.
I can assure you that I believe it is imperative that children have regular healthy and balanced meals throughout the day, to ensure they are able to thrive in the classroom. The Government is also keenly aware of the impact that the cost-of-living crisis is having on families across the country.
I understand that there have been some concerns about free school meals not being extended to include provision for all students at school. The Government has extended eligibility for free school meals several times, and to more groups of children than any other over the past half century, which now targets those most in need. The Department for Education has also recently extended the Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF), for further three years, which runs during major school holidays. The HAF programme has so far received over £200 million in funding and is delivered by all 152 local authorities in England during the Easter, summer, and Christmas holidays. It provides healthy meals, enriching activities, and free childcare places to children from low-income families. I am aware that the Department for Education has also recently held meetings with supermarkets to work with the Department to provide more support for the HAF programme in the coming months.
Further, as of this year, approximately 50,000 more children are benefitting from a free school meal compared to under the previous benefits system. I am also glad that the Department for Education is providing a further £18 million in funding for free school meals for all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. This increase will help schools and families cover rising costs.
I can assure you that this is an issue I will continue to monitor closely.
On a more personal note, I am deeply involved with ensuring everyone in Derby North is able to have access to healthy meals. I regularly volunteer with the community meals project at The YMCA on London Road, Derby as I believe nobody in our community should go hungry.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.