3p rise in free school meal funding will stretch school budgets, union warns

The Government has increased the amount paid towards free school meals by 3p (Ben Birchall/PA) - (PA Wire)

A 3p rise in Government funding paid to schools to provide free school meals will mean many schools will have to dip into already “stretched” budgets, a headteachers’ union has warned.

The Department for Education (DfE) has said the funding for free school meals offered to all pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 will rise from £2.58 to £2.61 a meal in the next academic year.