Number of Shropshire pupils getting free school meals on the rise

The latest Department for Education survey on school populations in England found that 17 per cent of state school pupils in Telford & Wrekin received free meals at school lunchtimes in January – 5,145 children in total and higher than the rate across the country, at 15 per cent.

In Shropshire, the data revealed 10 per cent of state school students received free school meals over the same period, equivalent to 4,070 children.

Since 2018, the proportion of pupils claiming the meals in Telford has risen by 2.3 per cent, compared to 1.8 per cent in Shropshire.

Children in reception, year one and year two are automatically offered free school meals, but from year three eligibility is linked to parents' benefits.

In Telford & Wrekin, 18 per cent of primary school pupils claimed the free meals along with 15 per cent of secondary school pupils, while 11 per cent claimed them in Shropshire primary schools, as well as 9 per cent in secondary schools.

Nationally, the number of children receiving free school meals in England is at its highest level since 2014.

Angela Rayner, Labour’s shadow education secretary, said: "The Government's short-term solution for the failings of Universal Credit has a brutal expiry date – if UC is ever rolled out, the Tories will stop the children of families on UC being automatically eligible for free school meals.

'Scaremongering'

"The Tories and, in coalition, the Lib Dems, have refused to provide disadvantaged children with the best start in life, with years of cuts to social security leading to rising child poverty.

"The next Labour government will give every primary school child a free school meal, and invest in schools, children’s services and the social safety net – so we can guarantee every child the best start in life."

The Department for Education dismissed the Labour claims as "scaremongering", adding that pupils eligible for the meals on or after April 1 last year can still claim them even if their circumstances change.

They say fewer youngsters stopped being eligible for them as a result.

A spokeswoman added: "Thanks to the protections included in our new free school meals criteria, the proportion of pupils eligible for and claiming these meals has risen across all ages this year which is fantastic to see.

"Contrary to previous scaremongering that disadvantaged children will lose their free school meal, data published just last week shows that more children are eligible for and claiming a free nutritious daily meal.

"We encourage all schools to speak to parents and pupils about their school meals provision, to ensure as many eligible children as possible claim their free school meals."