The Prime Minister visited a Cambridgeshire school on Monday (November 24) where over half of children are on free school meals
A principal has said it is a “positive step forward” as more children in Cambridgeshire are set to benefit from free school meals. On Monday (November 24), the Government announced it would be expanding its free school meals to more children across the East of England, including in Cambridgeshire.
On the day of the announcement, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson visited Welland Academy in Peterborough. While on a visit, the PM and secretary met Principal Jo Anderson, as well as school dinner supervisors. They also ate with some of the children.
At Welland Academy, over 50 percent of children are currently on free school meals. Principal Anderson said Monday’s announcement was a “positive step forward”. She added: “This announcement has been really positive for us at Welland Academy.
“We have just over 50% of our children on free school meals currently, but we know that many more would benefit from this. We know our families, who are financially struggling due to the cost of living crisis, will really benefit from this.”
Principal Anderson said that she and staff “know that children need to have full bellies” to concentrate. She added: “Giving them breakfast and proper school dinners helps them to learn and helps them focus, especially in the afternoons, when sometimes that focus does dwindle.”
The principal said that she knows “more needs to be done for children and families” at the school and other areas, but reiterated that the expansion was a “positive step forward”. Looking at Peterborough overall and child poverty, Principal Anderson added that free school meals will benefit those families in need.
She said: “We know the disadvantaged areas that we have and the families we serve, and we know the funding that we’re going to be given, and the support we get for our free school meals here is really going to benefit those children and families.”
