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.
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.
Source: Laura Rodrigues, Food for Thought: A Survey of Teachers’ Views on School Meals, Children’s Society
Links: Map | Report | Childrens Society press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Nursery World report