Commenting on government data showing a rise in the number of children eligible for Free School Meals, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“The number of children eligible for Free School Meals has risen to 1,897,449, an increase of 49% over the 1,270,914 children eligible in 2019.
“Nearly one quarter of school students (22.5%) are now eligible for free schools meals.
