The number of children eligible for free school meals in Bolton has rocketed by more than 100 per month this year, councillors have heard.
The impact of rapidly rising food, energy and fuel prices on families was laid bare in the shocking figures showing so far in 2022 hundreds of household incomes in the borough have fallen below the threshold which makes them entitled to the support.
Bolton’s education chief said that so far this year the number of children eligible had risen ‘every month’ with an additional 679 children now claiming free meals. The total number of free school meal children in Bolton on January 1 was 12,603 and presently there are 13,282.
