High Peak Liberal DemocratsAndrew Stunell MP has welcomed the Government's announcement that over 10,000 children in Stockport will receive free school meals from January 2014.
The Coalition will also extend free school meals to disadvantaged students in both further education and sixth form colleges.
Commenting, Andrew said -
"This welcome move goes alongside the Liberal Democrats' Pupil Premium, already bringing in over £2 million to local schools to help them deliver first class support to children throughout their school days. This move will save parents around £400 spent on school lunches per year, and make sure every young child gets a hot, healthy meal at lunchtime."
Universal free school meals for primary school pupils was a key recommendation in a recent review of school food produced independently for the Department for Education. The review found that, in pilots where all children had been given a free school dinner, students were academically months ahead of their peers elsewhere and more likely to eat vegetables at lunchtime.
The free school meals decision came just ahead of the 20th National School Meals Week, 4 to 8 November, the biggest healthy eating awareness campaign aimed at children in England and Wales. More than 350,000 children will be offered a free two course meal this week to celebrate the Great School Lunch.
The event is organised by LACA, the lead association for catering in education, which work with schools to promote healthy school meals in primary and secondary schools. Liberal Democrats welcome the LACA initiative to get as many pupils in England and Wales to try school food rather than bring a lunch box from home.
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