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County launches drive to increase numbers claiming free school meals

25 Mar 2013

Derbyshire County Council is launching a campaign which aims to make sure that all school pupils entitled to free school meals claim them.

There are 3,000 school pupils in Derbyshire not getting their free school lunch, according to figures released by the Government.

The campaign includes posters in buses, leaflets and posters sent to hundreds of places across Derbyshire, and schools sending the message out to parents.

Councillor Mike Longden, cabinet member for education, said: "We want to make sure that every pupil entitled to a free school lunch gets one.

"Parents don't need to worry that other children will know that their child gets free school meals - only necessary school staff will know."

"It is also important that every entitled child gets their free school meal as this affects how much funding a school gets. For every child claiming free school meals the Government gives the school £900 a year in the pupil premium payment."