One million poor children ‘missing free school lunch’

More than one million children living in poverty in England are missing out on free school meals, according to research from a children's charity. The Children's Society says there are some areas where more than two-thirds of children in poverty are missing out.

The charity has produced an interactive map showing the situation in each of the 533 parliamentary constituencies in England.

Key points

In total, an estimated 1.2 million children living in poverty across England are missing out on free school meals.
Of these children, 700,000 are not even entitled to the meals, despite their need, often simply because their parents are working. Another 200,000 are entitled to free meals, but not registered; and 300,000 are entitled and registered but do not eat the meal each day.
There are 57 constituencies where more than six out of ten children living in poverty are not getting a free school meal.
The highest proportions of children missing out are in the east, south east, south west and London. The two joint worst constituencies are Horsham and Bognor Regis/Littlehampton at 69 per cent, closely followed by Mitcham/Morden and Arundel/South Downs at 68 per cent.
Only 22 constituencies have fewer than 10 per cent of children in poverty missing out.

To accompany the map, the charity published the results of a survey of teachers in England on food in schools. 72 per cent had experienced pupils coming into school with no lunch and no means to pay for one; 44 per cent said children were often or very often hungry during the school day; and 66 per cent said staff provide pupils with food or money if they come into school hungry.