Local Lib Dems call for free school meals to be extended to all primary school children in Chatham and Aylesford

Medway Liberal Democrats are calling for free school meals to be extended to all primary school-aged children. Free school meals for children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classes were introduced by the Lib Dems in Government in 2012. Now Lib Dems in our area are backing the National Education Union campaign to extend free school meals to all primary school children in Medway.

The 'No Child Left Behind campaign' website estimates that over 6776 children in Chatham and Aylesford are living in poverty, and that number is rising all the time. For more information please go to link: https://nochildleftbehind.org.uk/results?postcode=me4%205ae

Vivienne Parker, Lib Dem candidate for Fort Horsted said; "Many families are now struggling through the cost-of-living crisis, including some who previously faced no financial difficulty. Free school meals help struggling families and give parents peace of mind knowing their children are guaranteed a hot, healthy meal at school.

Free school meals for 4 to 7 year olds has been a great success since it was introduced nationwide by the Lib Dems. It's been shown that children's education suffers when they are hungry. Extending free school meals for all primary school children is the right thing to do.

The families now face choices between heating and eating as well as seeing other bills rise faster than their wages. We support the NEU call for free school meals to help these struggling families through the crisis. We are also calling on the Government to provide proper funding to schools providing free school meals that takes into account the huge rise in inflation."

Earlier this year the Government increased funding by just 7 pence per meal. This doesn't get anywhere near the rise in prices and in effect has led to a cut in funding for school meals this year.

The Conservatives have spent the year trying to cut taxes for millionaires and giving bankers unlimited bonuses while millions of children are going hungry and schools are facing a funding crisis. We are calling for better funding and universal free school meals for all primary school children now.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

for more information please go to link: https://nochildleftbehind.org.uk/results?postcode=me4%205ae

About the No Child Left Behind Campaign

The No Child Left Behind campaign is fighting to break down the barriers poverty puts up around equal access to education.

As educators, we know first-hand how poverty limits the life chances of children and significantly affects their educational experience and outcomes in school.

Over eight in ten of respondents to a recent NEU survey told us that their students demonstrated fatigue (87%) and an inability to concentrate (81%) as a result of poverty. Almost three-quarters said their students were unable to complete homework and more than half said students had experienced hunger (57%) or ill health (55%).

In Britain, every child should have the chance to succeed. But today, 27% of our children - 3.9 million - are trapped in poverty. That means the equivalent of 8 pupils in every class of 30 have been let down. And it's only getting worse. The cost-of-living crisis is going to push more families into poverty as energy prices sky-rocket and food becomes more expensive.

It doesn't have to be this way. We are gathering supporters to demand urgent action from Government to eradicate child poverty across the UK so that no child is left behind.