.jpeg)
The government in England has agreed to extend a voucher scheme for children on free school meals during the summer holidays, following a campaign by footballer Marcus Rashford and others.
It had previously insisted the scheme would finish at the end of the summer term. Scotland and Wales will also continue with the voucher programme.
So, who is eligible for free school meals and how do they work?
Which children get free school meals?
Free school meals have been at least partially funded by the government for more than a century, because of concerns about malnourishment and children being too hungry to concentrate during lessons.
Children of all ages living in households on income-related benefits may be eligible, from government-maintained nurseries through to sixth forms.
Eligibility varies slightly between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland because the nations set their own rules.
New claims made from April 2018 in England must come from households earning a maximum income of £7,400 a year after tax, not including any benefits. It's the same in Scotland and Wales, but in Northern Ireland the household income threshold is £14,000
In England and Scotland, all infant state school pupils (those in Reception and in Years 1 and 2) can get free school meals during term time.
If a child qualifies for school meals they remain eligible until they finish the phase of school they're in as of 31 March 2022, whether primary or secondary.
How many children get free school meals?
In England, about 1.3 million children claimed for free school meals in 2019, or about 15% of state-educated pupils.
In Manchester, where Marcus Rashford grew up, the figure is 28.1%
The take-up was greatest in parts of London, the north of England and the Midlands where between a quarter and a third of all pupils were receiving free school meals.Who gets free school meals?
Premier League footballer Marcus Rashford successfully campaigned for school meals vouchers to continue over the summerHow has the scheme changed during coronavirus?
The majority of children have not been at school during the coronavirus pandemic. This has prompted concerns that those eligible for free school meals could "fall through the cracks" and go hungry.
In recent years, free school meals have been linked to lowering obesity levels, and boosting academic achievement for poorer pupils.
During term time, the government in England expects schools to support pupils eligible for free school meals through an alternative scheme, such as:
Food parcels for collection or delivery
The government's centrally-funded national voucher scheme
Alternative vouchers for a local shop or supermarket
Many families have been issued with either an electronic voucher or gift card worth £15 each week per pupil, to spend at supermarkets including Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Waitrose and M&S.
But the system has suffered problems including schools struggling to log on, parents being unable to download vouchers and some saying the vouchers failed when they tried to use them.
The programme, which has cost more than £129m since lockdown began, also ran throughout the Easter and May half-term holidays.
What did Marcus Rashford say?
Calling for the government in England to change its decision, Manchester United and England forward Marcus Rashford said his family had once relied on free school meals. "The system isn't built for families like mine to succeed," he said.
Campaigners had also threatened legal action against the government if it didn't extending the food voucher scheme.
Reversing the decision, Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed Mr Rashford's "contribution to the debate around poverty".
A "Covid summer food fund" will now offer six-week food vouchers to children eligible for free school meals in England during the holidays.
What is happening in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland?
In Wales, the government will support children on free school meals with food vouchers, meal deliveries or bank transfers until children go back to school
The same is true in Scotland
In Northern Ireland, free school meal payments will stop over the summer holidays, the education minister has said.
Comments