Free School Meals: Children with SEND

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.