According to official figures, the proportion of all pupils eligible for free school meals increased over the the last 12 months from 20.8 per cent in January 2021 to 22.5 per cent in the same month this year.
This is an increase of nearly 160,000 pupils, taking the total number of children who were eligible in January this year to 1.9m.
The increase is higher among black children, the figures also reveal. Over the same period the rise of eligibility among black Caribbean children was 2.9 per cent. Four in ten children from this ethnic background are now eligible for free school meals, according to the figures.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
