NEU reacts to Labour call for free school meals support in Summer

Commenting on the 24 million missing meals highlighted by Labour in their analysis of free school meals provision for the summer, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:

"The Government does not appear to be learning from its u-turns on free school meals and is ignoring the strong public support for meals in the holidays for these children. A short-term attitude from Government has made it hard for school leaders to make proper plans. It shouldn't be left to schools to have to highlight how important this is. That it should still be necessary to point out shortcomings in provision for the summer holiday is disappointing.

"The NEU thinks that it's just not acceptable for there to be 24 million missing meals this summer. We need to do things differently after Covid and make a proper strategy to address holiday hunger, so children aren't left behind in terms of opportunities."