CYP Now - Sharp increase in free school meal eligibility among children in need

The proportion of children in need eligible for free school meals has seen the biggest increase during the pandemic than at any time over the last five years.

The end of the temporary change could affect as many as 360,000 children, campaigners warn. Picture: Adobe Stock

The trend also applies to children with no involvement with children’s social care, latest Department for Education figures show.

Data on the outcomes of children in need, including children looked after by local authorities, shows that 55.5 per cent of children in need were eligible for free school meals in the year to 31 March 2021.

Among pupils with a children in need order this increases to 56.8 per cent and jumps to 75.2 per cent among children with a child protection plan in place.

In the year to 31 March 2020, 49.8 per cent of children in need were eligible for free school meals compared with 50.8 per cent of those with a children in need order and 68.8 per cent of those with a child protection plan.

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