The Labour Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson is considering scrapping this vital programme in England, in favour of means-testing. LACA insists the Government must ‘protect and expand access to free school meals, not take them away’.
Judith Gregory, chair of LACA, commented: “For over a decade, Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) has been a lifeline for countless parents and their children. Heartbreakingly, for some, it remains the only hot meal of the day.
“It is therefore deeply concerning, and quite frankly staggering, that the Labour Secretary of State for Education is considering scrapping this vital programme in England, in favour of means-testing. We already know that too many children are slipping through the cracks.
“At a time when the cost of living continues to rise, dismantling UIFSM would only place further strain on working families. This scheme has not only reduced the stigma around free school meals but has also instilled healthy eating habits from an early age and fostered better socialisation among children.
“Scrapping UIFSM would leave the most vulnerable children at risk. This is a step backward - we must protect and expand access to free school meals, not take them away.”