Three million more kids are eligible for free school meals from TODAY as new rules come into force

OVER three million children are now eligible to receive free school meals. From September, 1,400 new free breakfast clubs are introduced in schools across England. Over three million families are now eligible for free school meals (stock image) Credit: Getty Images – Getty Around three million families receiving Universal Credit are now eligible to receive free school meals from today. The breakfast club iniative aims to help children start the school day with a healthy meal, while simultaneously providing free before-school childcare. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Education Secretary Lucy Powell has said the latest update will “ease the back-to-school squeeze” for families. “For parents the start of term can be one of the most expensive times of the year,” she said. “From school uniforms and lunches to childcare and all the other costs that come with a new term, the bills can quickly add up.” Powell explained that the intiative will allow families to “finally start to feel the benefit of our support back in their pockets”. The education secretary said: “We’re helping ease the back-to-school squeeze with thousands of savings that give parents the breathing space they need”. “That breathing space means families can focus on what matters most: helping their children learn, grow and thrive, while I focus on delivering an education system that gives every child a clear route to success,” she said. Most read in The Sun Meanwhole, CEO of the charity Sutton Trust Nick Harrison described the update as “a significant step towards taking hunger out of the classroom”. “Children can’t learn effectively when hungry, so these efforts will help tackle the effects of child poverty, as well as improving education outcomes for disadvantaged young people,” he said. “Giving free school meals to all families who are eligible for Universal Credit is also easier for parents to understand, so has the potential to increase take up rates.” While he clarified the expansion is “not ‘job done’ on ending child poverty” he said the initiative is “a genuine improvement in the cost of living for many families around the UK”. It comes as a number of other new school rules are brought into force, including limits on branded school uniforms, updated attendance regulation, and a mobile phone ban. Comment now