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Education committee backs free school meals auto-enrolment

2 mins read Education Health
The government is being urged by MPs to amend its Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to ensure all eligible children are automatically enrolled for free school meals.
Helen Hayes is shadow early years minister. Picture: Parliament UK
Committee chair Helen Hayes is concerned over the lack of time MPs have been given to scrutinise the bill

This would remove the current requirement for low-income families to apply and ensure all eligible children benefit, according to the House of Commons education committee.

Experts told the committee that language barriers and difficulty with the administration process are preventing some children receiving free schools meals, with one in 10 eligible pupils currently missing out.

“Failing to legislate for auto-enrolment would be a missed opportunity to feed hungry children at school,” said the committee.

It added: “We consider that the arguments for auto-enrolment in free school meals for those children currently eligible are conclusive.

“In the interests of alleviating hunger in schools and improving health and educational outcomes for the poorest children, auto-enrolment must be brought in without delay."

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