Free school meals should be a human right, not a benefit
Louise Nichols, executive headteacher of a federation of primary schools in Hackney
Number of pupils: 370/240
Free school meals: 62%/58%
Pupils in poverty but not on free school meals: 38%/42%
“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.
“This is because Mandeville sits on the border with Islington, one of four London boroughs that offers universal free school meals to all primary school children, and we need to make a similar offer to them to compete for students.
“It costs us £15,000 a year to provide free school meals for the other 38 per cent at Mandeville, and this is overseen by our associate head Marc Thompson, but at Kingsmead, with the financial pressures we’re under, we can’t afford it.
“So I have to acknowledge that things are deeply unfair because if you’re a Mandeville child, you are decently fed, but if you’re a Kingsmead child, some of you are going hungry and your education is suffering. These are children whose parents mostly work hard in low-income jobs, such as hospital porters, cleaners, kitchen staff and security guards — a lot of them on zero hours contracts. Many of these children start the day without a proper breakfast and then it’s a long stretch to lunch and if they don’t have lunch or have just a meagre lunch, they cannot cope.
“The campaign to extend free school meals to all children in poverty is desperately needed. In this country, we give free education to all children and yet they somehow think food is different. 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
Number of pupils: 800
Free school meals: 29%
Pupils in poverty but not on free school meals: 54%
“Just over half our pupils do not get free school meals but would be defined as living in poverty. Many arrive at school hungry and as the day progresses, become distracted and unable to concentrate because they think only of food. These children typically bring in a lunch box, but what’s inside is wholly inadequate. We see packed lunches with stale potato chips from the night before covered in congealed ketchup or leftover cold pasta. We’ve got children who turn their face to the wall at lunchtime to hide their mouths because they are ashamed and don’t want their peers to see what’s in their lunch.
“We run a tuckshop at break twice a week and some children come and empty their coppers on the counter to cobble together 20p for a piece of fruit. They get distressed because they can’t afford more. We have children breaking down and crying because of hunger. Birthdays are another flashpoint with pupils embarrassed and upset because they can’t afford treats for their friends. The impacts are deep. It’s hard to perform academically or do physical exercise when you are hungry. We have also seen an increase in poor teeth and a decline in dental hygiene.
“I support the call to extend free school meals to all children whose parents are on universal credit. Children get free stationery and textbooks, those are not means tested, so why not food? The Government talks about ‘levelling up’, but what can be more important than making sure our children are fed?”
Ministers should ask themselves: what would you want for your child?
Sarah Beveridge, headteacher, Leyburn Primary, North Yorkshire
Number of pupils: 200
Free school meals: 11%
Pupils in poverty but not on free school meals: 15%
“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 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. I have concern for about 30 of our pupils who don’t get free school meals but whose parents are buckling under the cost of living crisis.
“These children come in with very skimpy packed lunches that may consist of a biscuit and a bruised banana that are completely inadequate. They get very tired in the afternoon. Children will even take food out of other pupils’ lunch boxes when they’re not looking. Actual stealing. Teachers tell me there are children who don’t have enough to eat. In urban areas, cheap food is easier to access, but we are in the Yorkshire Dales and where the cost of produce is higher because of transport costs.
“Ministers should ask themselves: what would you want for your child? It’s shocking that we need a campaign to end hunger in schools when we live in one of the most privileged countries in the world. Children face high expectations academically but cannot do it on empty stomachs.”
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