More Newcastle children now have access to free school lunches, after a push to help more struggling families.
Newcastle City Council announced last December that all eligible children in the city would be automatically enrolled for free school meals (FSM), instead of parents having to sign up.
The move, which has been enacted by a number of authorities across the North East, came amid concerns that too many youngsters from poorer households were missing out on what could be their only meal of the day.
City health chiefs were told this week that the exercise has now resulted in 153 children being approved for FSM.
It is estimated that around one in 10 pupils eligible for FSM in England are not registered and that it costs their families as much as £450 a year to provide lunches for primary school age children.
The lack of takeup has been blamed on a variety of factors – including the paperwork and bureaucracy of having to apply, barriers presented by language or literacy issues, and feelings of stigma or embarrassment.
Council public health officials told Newcastle’s Health and Wellbeing Board on Wednesday that city schools would also get an extra £195,250 per year in pupil premium funding as a result of the 153 more children being signed up.
City council leader Karen Kilgour added: “I am really proud of this piece of work. You have done a fabulous job and it is such an important subject.”
The extra FSM registrations as a result of the auto enrollment in Newcastle were deceived as “comparatively low” compared to other council areas – with a combined 4,000 youngsters having benefited across Middlesbrough, County Durham, Northumberland, Redcar, and Cleveland.
Newcastle City Council said that was due to the authority already having a “robust” system.
Around 40% of children in Newcastle are eligible for FSM, compared to an average 24.6% across England.
The council said its aim was now to encourage greater uptake of school meals among those who are eligible, addressing issues such as children thinking they do not have enough time to finish their meals and play with friends.
A council report states: “For some children their FSM will be the only hot meal they get that day, it may even be their only meal. For families of primary school aged children their free school meals can save them as much as £450 a year – that’s almost £40 a month. For those in secondary school, the figures will be higher.
“Access to a nutritious meal in the middle of the school day has myriad benefits including improved concentration, behaviour and ability to learn. Good food also supplies the nutrients children need to develop and thrive. Provision of FSM can truly target health inequalities.”
