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Free School Meals: Children with SEND
10 January 2024
Lead MP
Ian Byrne
Liverpool West Derby
Lab
Responding Minister
Damian Hinds
Tags
EducationBenefits & WelfareWomen & EqualitiesChildren & Families
Word Count: 9538
Other Contributors: 14
At a Glance
Ian Byrne raised concerns about free school meals: children with send in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Government should update the free school meal guidance to clearly state schools' duty under the Equality Act and provide alternatives like supermarket vouchers for eligible disabled children who cannot eat regular school meals. The Minister is asked to commit to addressing parents' concerns about access to breakfast and holiday schemes immediately.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Thousands of children with special educational needs and disabilities are missing out on free school meals despite being eligible, causing many families to fall into debt and rely on food banks. Contact calculates that more than 164,000 disabled children are unable to access their free school meals due to issues such as dietary requirements or sensory processing difficulties.
Afzal Khan
Lab
Manchester Rusholme
He pointed out that 60% of disabled children eligible for free school meals cannot eat them due to health conditions, dietary requirements or sensory processing difficulties. He called on schools and the Department for Education to make reasonable adjustments.
Apsana Begum
Lab
Poplar and Limehouse
She highlighted that her constituency has one of the highest rates of child poverty in the country, compounded by SEND funding crisis. She suggested updating FSM guidance to ensure schools make reasonable adjustments.
Helen Hayes
Lab
Dulwich and West Norwood
Ms Hayes highlighted the failure to implement Government legislation regarding free school meals for children with special educational needs and disabilities. She noted that schools have a duty under the Equality Act to make reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils, but this is not reflected in current guidance. There are also gaps in legislation concerning independent schools where many SEND pupils attend, leading to a lack of support.
Ian Lavery
Lab
Blyth and Ashington
He shared his personal experience of receiving free school meals during his education, urging the Minister to listen to SEND families. He mentioned that 164,000 disabled children miss out on £570-worth of food each year due to a failure to comply with the Education Act and Equality Act.
He spoke about a constituent, Emma Knops, whose children have coeliac disease and are dairy and soy-intolerant with sensory processing difficulties. He pointed out that the law on free school meals is different from the guidance provided by schools and suggested that the Government should change either the law or the guidance.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Jim Shannon supports the debate by adding a Northern Ireland perspective. He notes that 64,500 pupils in Northern Ireland have some form of SEN and highlights the importance of a healthy diet for children's learning and overall well-being. With poverty rates rising, free school meals can help address food insecurity among families. Shannon emphasizes the need to consider special dietary requirements for children with SEND and encourages parents to contact their local representatives if unsure about eligibility for free school meals.
Kerry McCarthy
Lab
Bristol East
Ms McCarthy questioned the Minister about the role of the Food Standards Agency in reviewing schools' compliance with national food standards and ensuring that dietary needs of SEND pupils are met.
Kevin Foster
Con
Torbay and South Devon
He highlighted the importance of free school meals in supporting children's learning and praised efforts to supplement this with holiday activities. He noted that while schools are legally required to provide reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils, many may be unaware of their responsibilities. Kevin Foster cited a survey by Contact indicating that 60% of disabled children could not eat their free lunch due to health conditions or dietary requirements.
He highlighted Brighton and Hove's decision to mandate free school meals for children not attending mainstream schools due to special educational needs, arguing that separate special schools are sometimes best suited for pupils with sensory needs. He criticised the Department of Education's guidance on eligibility for free school meals.
She praised Tahir Ali's work on hunger issues and commended London's decision to extend free lunches for primary school children. She agreed that allowance should be made for disabled children in receiving their meals.
Mary Foy
Lab
City of Durham
She expressed personal empathy for families with disabled children and cited a report where pupils were described as having 'grey skin' due to malnutrition. She noted that in her constituency, over 19% of children have special educational needs but only 9.4% are eligible for free school meals, highlighting that over 164,000 disabled pupils miss out on £570-worth of food annually.
Sarah Dyke
Lib Dem
Glastonbury and Somerton
Mainstream and special schools in Somerset are stretched beyond capacity due to lack of resources. The guidance for free school meals does not address the needs of children with SEND, failing to recognize their unique circumstances. There is a need for comprehensive Government guidance that integrates disability into educational policies. Sarah Dyke highlights frequent cases where neurodivergent individuals feel stigmatised by government services and urges the provision of digital education resources based on clinical information. She also points out higher suspension and exclusion rates among SEND pupils, emphasising the importance of nutritional needs being included in EHCPs.
Tahir Ali
Lab
Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley
Children are going to school hungry, with food bank numbers at a record high. He emphasised the need for statutory organisations to ensure that no child misses out on their entitlements.
Zarah Sultana
Your Party
Coventry South
She highlighted the need to ensure free school meals are accessible to all children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. She shared a case study of Jordan, a five-year-old with hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy who cannot access his school's food due to dietary restrictions. Sultana stated that 60% of disabled children eligible for free lunches cannot access them because of their disabilities.
Government Response
Damian Hinds
Government Response
Acknowledged the importance of free school meals in supporting children with SEND. Noted that over £1 billion is spent annually to provide meals to more than a third of pupils, representing an increase from one in six in 2010. Discussed eligibility criteria and protections for families transitioning to universal credit. Emphasised schools' duties under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments for disabled students. Announced updates to guidance on reasonable adjustments for meal provision and addressed concerns regarding food provision for children educated otherwise than at school (EOTAS). Mentioned ongoing review of free school meals guidance in relation to EOTAS, with publication expected in spring. Highlighted funding increases for high-needs support, with over £10.5 billion allocated for 2024-25.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.