The Leader podcast: Why free school meals needs ‘urgent’ expansion

A group of teaching unions and other organisations are calling on the government to expand the free school meals scheme.

The group, claiming to represent one million school staff, have sent a letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi asking for an “urgent” expansion, to include all children in families receiving universal credit or equivalent benefits.

It’s as recent figures from the Office For National Statistics show the lowest priced items at UK supermarkets went up by around 6 or 7% in the year to April.

Richard Bettsworth from the Association of School and College Leaders explains why they’re asking the government for an expansion of free school meals, why it would be a ‘modest’ investment, and how families, including those not on universal credit, are struggling.

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