LACA Statement following the publication of Part One of the National Food Strategy
“LACA – The School Food People welcomes the publication of Part One of the National Food Strategy’s report and in particular, the key recommendation that free school meals should be available to a further 1.5 million children whose households are in receipt of Universal Credit. The full impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has yet to be realised, and many more families are likely to face financial and employment difficulties as we move into the autumn and winter months. For some children a healthy and nutritious school lunch may be the only hot meal they have in a day, and extending free school meals further will ensure that no child falls through the gap and goes hungry.
LACA continues to campaign for Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) to be extended to all primary school children. Our report with the Education Policy Institute into UIFSM found that over a third of teachers saw improvement in concentration and attainment as direct result of the policy and 30% of school leaders saw improvements in the overall health of infant pupils. We agree with Henry Dimbleby’s assertion that a government that is serious about ‘levelling up’ must ensure that all children get the nutrition they need. We look forward to the Government’s response to the report.”
To read the full strategy click here:
