Thousands of kids in poverty across North East set to miss out on free school meals

It's claimed 38 thousand kids in poverty across the North East will still miss out on free school meals under new government plans.

While Universal Credit's been rolled out - every family on it's been eligible for them - but that could change to only those on the lowest incomes.

The Children's Society say all parents on the new benefit should qualify - as a consultation ends today.

Grant Hopkins, Headteacher of Lockwood Primary in Saltburn, said:

"I suspect for some children it'll be the only warm they get a day - a lot of children won't have a warm meal when they get home.

"Our meals are nutritious and it's a place where children get together, have a chat, and it provides the old fashioned values of sitting down and having a meal together.

"If we provide the children with a balanced, nutritious meal, their learning is so much better than if they had a meal which is high in sugar, for example."

A Department for Education spokesperson said:

"No child who is currently receiving a free school meal should lose out as a result of our proposals and it is misleading to suggest otherwise. The fact is over 50,000 more children than now will be entitled to Free School Meals as a result our eligibility proposals following the rollout of Universal Credit.

"It’s right that we make sure this support reaches children from the most disadvantaged families and we’re consulting on this issue to make sure that’s the case.”