Leading doctors and dentists have ramped up calls for free school meals to curb the “devastating” impacts of poor diets.
Health and medical experts are warning the new Labour government that children are suffering from tooth decay, mental health issues and obesity. Ministers are warned they can no longer ignore overwhelming research that shows the benefits of free lunches for all primary school children.
Studies show fewer than 2% of packed lunches meet the same nutritional standards as free school meals. A group of the UK’s top experts, including the British Dental Association and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, are on Tuesday marching to the Department of Health and Social Care to deliver their message to new boss Wes Streeting.
In a letter to the Health Secretary, they said: “Every day, we see the devastating impact of poor diet and food scarcity on the health of our children and young people. This cannot be right, and your government cannot stand by while it worsens. That is why we are writing to implore you to seek the rollout of nutritious Free School Meals for all children attending state-funded primary schools in England.”
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The letter delivery is part of the No Child Left Behind campaign run by the National Education Union and supported by a 300+ strong coalition of prominent civil society organisations, politicians and public figures. The Mirror has been campaigning for free school meals for all primary kids with the NEU, a call that has been backed by charities and top chefs.
All primary school children in London can get a free school meal after mayor Sadiq Khan stepped in to ensure no child goes hungry. The group of health experts said it strongly welcomed the move. They urged Mr Streeting to stick to his word to take Mr Khan’s policy as a “welcome opportunity to research the impact of free school meals”.
“We write to you today to say we have learned all we need to from this research opportunity – we know that the provision of Free School Meals is a simple and highly impactful means of lifting children out of the clutches of illness and health inequalities,” they told the Labour minister.
Why every child deserves a free school meal
The country’s children should not be the victims of the cost of living crisis.
They should not have to pay the price because their parents cannot afford to put food on the table or heat the family home.
But at the moment there are nearly four million children living in poverty. Many of them are being brought up in homes where there is not enough money to pay for a hot meal. Some are having to skip meals entirely.
That is why the Mirror is calling on the government to provide free school meals for every primary pupil in England.
The Scottish and Welsh governments are introducing universal free school meals. It’s time England did the same.
If a child is hungry they cannot learn. It makes it harder for them to concentrate in class and harder for them to reach their potential.
Free school meals for all primary-age children would save parents vital pennies - money which could be used to pay for warm clothes, school activities or heating.
It would reduce the bureaucracy attached with deciding which pupils are eligible. Most importantly, it would mean every child have the chance to flourish.
You can find out more about our Free School Meals for All campaign here
“We urge you to stand with us, as medical and health experts, and work with your government colleagues to invest in the next generation with Free School Meals for all. This will be a powerful first step towards realising the good health our children deserve, so they can thrive during their development and go on to live long, happy and healthy lives.”
Children in England can currently get free school meals until the end of Year 2. After that, pupils are only eligible if their families receive certain benefits under "draconian" eligibility rules. An estimated 900,000 children living in poverty miss out on free lunches due to the thresholds, according to the Child Poverty Action Group.
A government spokeswoman said: “This government has a clear mission to break down barriers to opportunity and confront child poverty. As part of this, one of our first priorities is on delivering free breakfast clubs in every primary school to make sure children start the day with a full stomach and ready to learn.
“We have launched a child poverty taskforce co-chaired by the Education Secretary and Work and Pensions Secretary, looking at longer-term actions to increase household income, bring down essential costs, and tackle the challenges felt by those living in poverty. This government recognises that prevention will always be better and cheaper than a cure and we are determined to tackle the levels of childhood obesity head on, easing the strain on our NHS and creating the healthiest generation of children ever.”