MPs are urging Labour to support providing free school meals for all primary school students in England. This comes after a recent study showed that it can lower obesity rates and improve reading abilities.
The study, which was viewed by the Observer, showed that the policy had led to a decrease in obesity levels of 7% to 11% among reception children in the four London boroughs that had implemented it. For students in year six who had received free school meals throughout their time in primary school, there was a reduction of 5-8%.
According to research conducted by the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Essex, providing financial assistance to parents not only helps with the cost of living, but also leads to an increase in reading ability. The study also indicated that by the age of 11, this impact is comparable to approximately two weeks of extra progress in school.
The study also discovered that providing free school meals to all students resulted in an 8% increase in participation among those who were already eligible. This could be attributed to a shift in school culture and the reduction of stigma associated with receiving free meals. As a result, approximately one-third of students began eating school lunches for the first time.
In England, children in reception, year one, and year two are eligible for complimentary lunches. The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, has implemented universal free school meals for all students in the capital until the following year. Starting this year, all primary school students in Wales and Scotland will also receive free school meals. Based on estimates from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, providing free meals to all state primary school students would amount to approximately £1 billion annually.
Several Labour members of parliament have advocated for the implementation of free meals across the country. Stephen Timms, the Labour leader of the work and pensions select committee, expressed that the policy has been successfully implemented in his borough in London. He noted that the policy has received positive feedback from parents and research has shown its positive impact on children’s health and education. He also commended the decision of the London mayor to expand the policy city-wide and called for its national rollout.
Kim Johnson, the MP for Liverpool Riverside under the Labour party, stated that in her city, about 11 out of 30 children in a class are currently living in poverty. She emphasized the importance of providing children with access to nutritious food in order for them to flourish. Johnson has been a longtime advocate for the NEU’s No Child Left Behind initiative, which aims to make free school meals available to all primary and secondary students. This initiative aims to address the issue of hunger and ensure that it does not hinder children from learning and achieving their maximum potential.
Sharon Hodgson, who leads the bipartisan school food group, stated that government officials have been aware of the advantages of implementing this program since 2013. She believes that providing free school meals to all students, regardless of their financial status, helps eliminate the negative connotations associated with means-testing and breaks the cycle of economic disparities that continue from outside the school to the cafeteria. According to her, school food is a crucial aspect of public health policy and has the potential to benefit all children in the UK by offering them nourishing and wholesome meals. For this reason, she has been advocating for universal free school meals for over 14 years.
Khan shared that he has firsthand knowledge of the positive impact free school meals can have. He expressed that one of his proudest accomplishments as mayor was providing these meals to all state primary schoolchildren in London.
I am pleased to receive feedback from teachers on the improved academic performance of students this year. Additionally, families have also benefited from not having to stress about feeding their children. This research demonstrates that providing all students with a healthy meal during school hours can promote better health and allow students to concentrate on their studies without the distraction of hunger.
Bridget Phillipson, the opposition’s spokesperson for education, has promised to establish breakfast clubs in all primary schools, using the funds from the elimination of non-domiciled tax status. However, the party does not intend to increase the availability of free school lunches.
The impact of extending the policy to encompass all primary school students was investigated by researchers through a study of four London boroughs – Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Newham, and Islington – each of which have their own programs. According to Dr. Angus Holford, co-author of the study, there are numerous long-term advantages that can be expected from this extension, such as an improvement in reading skills even at the end of primary school. Other evidence suggests that this improvement may lead to higher lifetime earnings. Even if the effects on obesity prevalence do not persist fully into adulthood, delaying the onset of obesity or reducing the overall duration of obesity can still decrease the risk of developing health issues later in life.
Source: theguardian.com
