Free school lunch for every child in infant school

All infant school pupils (aged 5-7) in state-funded schools in England will be eligible for free school meals from September 2014, the coalition has announced. It says this is the first step towards giving free school meals to all children in primary schools (up to age 11).

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: 'My ambition is that every primary school pupil should be able to sit down to a hot, healthy lunch with their class mates every day. Millions of parents across the country are feeling the squeeze. Over the course of a year families spend over £400 on lunch money for each child. I am determined to do all we can to help put money back in the pockets of these families'.

Disadvantaged students at sixth-form colleges and further education colleges will also be eligible for free meals from September 2014.

In total these measures will cost approximately £600 million a year. Full details on funding will be announced in the Autumn Statement later in 2013.

Source: Press release 17 September 2013, Department for Education
LinksDE press release | AOC press release | Childrens Society press release | CPAG press release | 4Children press release | NUT press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Nursery World report | Telegraph report

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