Free school meals: Interactive map reveals how many kids in your area rely on help to eat
AN INTERACTIVE map shows exactly how many kids in each area rely on free school meals to eat.
The release of the map showing the kids on free school meals in each primary school in England comes as the PM U-turned and promised to give food vouchers over the summer holidays.
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Some schools have as many as 62 per cent of their pupils relying on free school meals.
There are around 1.3 million children who benefit from getting free meals at school across the country and will be helped by football legend Marcus Rushford's campaign to get the vouchers to the kids over the holidays.
The map by think tank Centre for Towns – based on figures from 2019 – shows that multiple schools in and around Manchester had more than 60 per cent of their students on free school meals.
Hundreds of schools across the nation had at least 30 per cent of kids on school meals.
Wealthier areas, such as those schools in central Oxford, had as little as 6 per cent of children relying on extra help.
In some areas of London, some primary schools had only 13 per cent of children receiving free meals, but other schools just down the road had 30 per cent.
As many as 200 kids in some schools were staying well fed thanks to the scheme
After mounting pressure from Tory MPs and celebrities, the Government revealed it would fund the food voucher scheme after all, despite saying it would not carry on over the summer.
Parents who are eligible will be able to claim the extra help with meals for their kids.
A one off six-week voucher will be dished out for families to use in supermarkets.
Marcus tweeted after the news: "I don’t even know what to say. Just look at what we can do when we come together, THIS is England in 2020."
Boris told the Cabinet this morning the news – which will cost £120million in extra funding.
The PM's spokesperson said today that the Government would run a Covid food fund throughout the summer.
He said: “The PM welcomed Marcus Rashford’s contribution to the debate around poverty and I said he would be responding as soon as possible.
"Owing to the coronavirus pandemic, the PM fully understands that children and parents face an entirely unprecedented situation over the summer.
"To to reflect this, we will be providing a Covid summer food fund.
"This will provide food vouchers covering the six week holiday period.
"This was a specific measure to reflect the unique circumstances of the pandemic.
"The scheme will not continue beyond the summer and those eligible will be those who already qualify for free school meals.”
Ministers have said they will continue with plans to put an additional £63million of money into local authorities to help those who can't afford basic essentials.
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