Increase in children on free school meals ‘devastating sign of the deprivation levels that exist in Doncaster’

Coun Joe Blackham, part of Mayor Ros Jones’s cabinet, highlighted a report in a recent meeting that there are now a further 1,500 children receiving free school meals since the pandemic and subsequent lockdown began in March.

Figures show that a total of 11,103 children now receive free school meals which equates to 23.5 per cent of all eligible children.

Children are eligible for free school meals if the household receives Universal Credit and annual net earned income is below £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of the most recent assessment periods.

All children in reception, year 1 or year 2 are automatically entitled to receive a free school meal regardless of income and circumstances.

Education bosses at Doncaster Council also said that more children are physically in school during the latest lockdown than they were in March and April 2020.

All schools are open and provide places for critical workers and vulnerable children but some primary schools are said to be ‘struggling with demand’ whilst others are operating at around 50 per cent.

During the March lockdown, bosses said schools were operating at around 12 per cent capacity.

Work is said to be ongoing with the council and school leaders to address the pressures by developing a ‘Doncaster place based approach’.

Coun Blackham said: “There have been 1,500 additional children now recorded of being in receipt of free school meals taking the total to 11,103, which gives a percentage of all children across the borough to 23.5 per cent.

“This is another devastating sign of the deprivation levels that exist in Doncaster and something that we cannot afford the luxury of understating.

“This is a huge problem and it is getting worse rather than getting better.”

Back in October, Mayor Jones said the council would foot the bill for free school meals over the half-term break at a cost of around £145,000.

This came after the Government voted against a opposition amendment to carry on funding free school meals during the holidays until Easter 2021.

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