EPI report shows more children living in poverty are missing out on free school meals and pupil premium, says NEU

Commenting on the latest report by the Education Policy Institute looking into the take up of free school meals and the pupil premium,Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:

“This report demonstrates how children and schools are missing out on crucial support because of out-of-touch bureaucracy blocking children's access to food.

“Means testing means children missing out. The eligibility threshold for free school meals is a disgrace: a household income over £7,400 per year (before benefits) means a child is too well off to qualify. Worse still, the report shows how even those who meet the criteria are still not getting their entitlement. This has knock-on effects as schools lose out on vital pupil premium funding to support their most vulnerable children.

“We urge the Government to make sure no child is missing out, by investing in our pupils with free school meals for all. In the meantime, it should automatically enrol all pupils entitled to free school meals.”