Free school meals system needs reform, claims MP

An MP has called for reform of the free school meals system, which she claims is penalising children from low-income families.

Helen Jones, the Labour MP for Warrington North, claimed in a House of Commons debate last week that the system "makes it impossible for teenagers from low-income families to eat healthily".

Guidelines from the Department for Education and Skills state that a free school dinner ticket should buy a two-course meal and a drink. "I know of very few secondary school canteens where that could be achieved," said Jones.

The value of a school meal ticket varies between local authorities, but Jones added that government research into the take-up of free school meals had shown average spend was higher than the value of a free school meal ticket in every school surveyed. "Even in the school with the highest-value meal ticket of £1.65, the set meal of the day when the research team visited was fish and chips, which cost £1.75. That could not be afforded, even without vegetables and a drink. It is no wonder that many children, who are entitled to free meals, end up eating sandwiches and snacks. The value of free school meals must be addressed."

About 16% of children at secondary schools are entitled to free meals, but nearly one-third do not apply for them.