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New government figures on free school meals show more work is needed to make sure families who qualify are both registering and taking them up.

That’s the view of LACA chair Anne Bull who said: “LACA firmly believes that it is vitally important that those who are entitled to free school meals receive them.

“The recent figures from the Department for Education reveal that the overall proportion of children registered for free school meals went up very slightly from 16.9% in 2012 to 17.1% in 2013, however much more needs to be done by the Government to ensure that uptake is encouraged and increased.

“For many children living in poverty, a free school lunch may be the only hot, nutritious meal they eat each day, and it is essential that every child is well-fed to ensure that they remain healthy, maintain concentration and achieve their full potential.

“The introduction of universal credit is the perfect opportunity for the government to ensure that all children in poverty receive a school meal.

“Yet LACA is very concerned about reports that under proposals being considered by the government, children whose families earn more than £135 a week may lose out on their entitlement to a free school meal.

“We eagerly await the opportunity to comment on these proposals in a consultation soon to be issued by the Department of Education.”

The Children’s Food Trust’s head of evaluation Jo Nicholas pointed out that the latest data show the proportion of those registered who were actually taking up their free meals saw a slight fall (from 83.2% of children who were registered for free school meals in 2012, to 82.7 of children who were registered in 2013).

“Not only is it always a concern to see children living in poverty missing out on a nutritious meal at school - which research shows improves their focus and performance in class, but their school lunch could also be their only proper meal of the day - particularly important when so many families are struggling to make their food budgets stretch.

“We know there are still many reasons why families don’t sign up for school meals and why they don’t always opt to take them up once they have registered – but it’s so important that schools are getting the help and encouragement they need to do something about this.

“Ultimately, it’s about getting the whole school meal experience right for children, so that every child wants to have school meals - whether they pay or get them free.”

To view the DfE statistical document visit: www.gov.uk/government/publications/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2013