Kids on 'cloud nine' over free school meals as they 'egg PM on' for more at No10
Schoolchildren were on 'cloud nine' as they today delivered a letter to Downing Street thanking the PM for the major expansion of free school meals - but they are fighting for more
Schoolchildren were on 'cloud nine' as they today delivered a letter to 10 Downing Street thanking the PM for the major expansion of free school meals.
Ann-Marie Ferrigan, a teacher at Liverpool's Monksdown Primary School, said the four 11-year-olds, Max, Josie, Ahmed, Arthur, were 'over the moon' that their years-long campaign had achieved a win.
But she said the kids were also clear they 'want to fight' to ensure all kids in primary school have access to a universal free lunch.
'One of them, in true Scouse style, said: 'Well, if you just egg the Prime Minister on a bit, he might give it to everybody,'' Ms Ferrigan told The Mirror. 'So they were speaking about it being brilliant what he's done, but there's still people going hungry.'
Keir Starmer earlier this month announced that more than half a million children will become eligible for free school meals after a major expansion of eligibility rules.
The PM unveiled plans to extend the lifeline benefit to all kids in families who get Universal Credit in England, in a move that could save parents up to £500 a year. The expansion, which will come into force in September 2026, marked a victory for the Mirror's long-running campaign to widen provision to stop children being too hungry to learn.
This newspaper has been campaigning with the National Education Union (NEU), who organised the No10 letter hand-in, for all children in English primary schools to get free hot meals, in line with commitments in Scotland, Wales and London.
Ms Ferrigan said: 'Our children are very angry about the injustice of the fact that because we're from Liverpool, we don't get it, and I think they're right. If one area of the country can do it, why can't it be rolled out for all areas?'
Speaking about the 'horrible' reality of child hunger at her school, she said she has seen kids bringing extra food in their lunchboxes to share it with their hungry peers, as well as kids being tired, switched off or disengaged in lessons.
She said kids have also complained of stomach pain and said many suffer with toothache, with parents forced to turn to cheaper and less nutritious options like sausage rolls and a bag of crisps to fill their child's lunchbox.
The Year 6 teacher, who is in charge of student voice projects, said helping families with food was the first thing her students discussed during a school council meeting two years ago.
'When I was a child, if someone asked me what we can do for our school, I'd have said: 'Let's put a swimming pool or a waterslide in,'' she said. 'The fact that they were saying 'Let's put something in where we can feed the other children' is disgusting."
While she praised the significant expansion of free school meals, Ms Ferrigan said the cut off point would mean some families would still struggle. She gave the example of a family at her school, whose mum is a nurse and whose dad is a taxi driver, who got into debt after not being able to afford the price of school lunches, but are ineligible for free hot meals.
In the letter addressed to Mr Starmer, which was delivered to No10 on Friday, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU, thanked the PM for his 'decisive leadership' in expanding free school meals.
'This is a major leap forward in the fight to end the national scandal of child hunger — and a moment of real hope for families across the country. There is more to do — but this progress shows what's possible.
'With continued leadership, we can go further and ensure every child in this country has the nourishment they need to learn, to grow and to thrive. Let's finish the job and deliver Free School Meals for All, to every pupil in every state-funded primary school in England.'
A Department for Education spokeswoman said: 'This government has taken a historic step to tackle the stain of child poverty – offering free school meals to every single child from a household that claims Universal Credit.
'This means over half a million more children will be able to access free school meals, lifting 100,000 children out of poverty. We're putting money back in the pockets of working families, including rolling out free breakfast clubs and capping school uniform costs, helping them save up to £500 a year."
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