Cuts Watch #50: Local impacts of free school meals cuts

10 Jun 2010, by Nicola Smith in Cuts Watch

The local impacts of the cut to free school meals for low-paid families are becoming apparent:

• Bradford Council, which was due to pilot the programme in September, has been told that funding has been withdrawn.
• In Cumbria teachers have expressed disappointment at the funding cut.
• Children in Nottingham, Islington and Medway have also been affected.

In Newham, which is already piloting the free school meals extension, almost four out of every five children now eat free school meals. The initaitive has been found to encourage health eating, tackle obesity and reduce child poverty.