Thousands of children to benefit from school meals through pilot scheme

Primary and secondary schools across the city are taking part in the extended eligibility scheme, which allows families that receive working tax credit to claim free meals. The pilot project, which will run for two years, is being funded by the Department for Children, Schools & Families, Department for Health and Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust. Families whose total income is less than £16,040 are able to claim. This reduced figure for testing eligibility means a larger group of families on low income will be entitled to free meals. The Council is also encouraging families who qualify for free school meals under the pre-pilot criteria to register and take up their entitlement. As well as the financial benefits to families, the scheme will ensure children receive healthy, nutritional meals every day at school. Wolverhampton City Council is the only local authority in the country that has been approved to offer this benefit for the next two years, until July 2011. It is also the only council running a pilot for both primary and secondary school children. Dr Adrian Phillips, director of public health for Wolverhampton, said: "This initiative is great news for the city because more children from low income families will be able to get a free wholesome and healthy meal at lunchtime. "This will not only improve their health and wellbeing, but also their concentration at school and thus improve their learning. It will also help in the city's fight against childhood obesity and add to our other schemes including Food Dudes and the MEND programme."