School meal provision falling behind

As reported by the National Education Union, the No Child Left Behind campaign is calling upon the Department of Education to step up and fund free school meals to all primary school children in Northern Ireland

In England, for the first three years every child gets a free school meal. In 2020, Scotland extended free school meals to every child in primary year one to five and in 2021, Wales committed to deliver the same.

Julie Thomas, principal of Clandeboye Primary School said:

“As we approach the winter months we are, more than ever, aware of the pressures put on families, to provide a nutritious, hot, filling meal for their children. The rising cost of food and of fuel is affecting all families, irrespective of income. Locally, we know that working families are struggling to provide everything required by their children once they have paid for housing, childcare and travelling costs.”

“In schools we see first-hand how increasing numbers of families are choosing not to pay for meals for a full week, particularly if they have more than one child. To provide school dinners daily for three primary aged children for one month would be an extra monthly outgoing of £156. It is difficult for school leaders and staff to continue to be aware of this situation when we know that our counterparts in the rest of the UK are able to access free food support for some or all of their pupils.”

Danielle Black, regional officer for NEU NI said: 

“We are living through the greatest cost of living crisis in a generation, and too many families with young children are being pulled into poverty. Unfortunately the provision of school meals in Northern Ireland is not keeping pace with neighbouring regions and is letting families down as household purses feel the squeeze.

We welcome that some schools are rising to meet this need by offering more pupils free meals, recognising that there are more families than ever not entitled to this benefit but who are struggling. However given the pressure on school budgets the provision is patchy and we need to see consistent and fully funded school meals for all primary school children.

Our school leadership members have reported that the flat rate for free school meals covered by the Department of Education has not risen in at least five years. With the cost of food and energy that flat rate hardly makes a dent in the bills facing schools trying to provide our children with a hot meal.

Teachers and support staff see the difference a healthy school dinner makes. When children are hungry, they can’t learn. It’s hard for them to concentrate and harder for them to reach their potential. Free school meals for all would mean every child can learn and succeed.

Dr Camilla Kingdon, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said:

“Every day, we see the impact of hunger and malnutrition in our work as paediatricians. It is not unusual for us to care for children who do not have enough to eat or who don’t have access to a regular substantial meal. 

Good nutrition lies at the heart of health and wellbeing for children and young people. By extending free school meals we would not only tackle child hunger, but also give our future generations a better start in life.”