Around 5,000 children in Oldham who live in poverty are not able to access free school meals, according to a new report.

Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and Greater Manchester Poverty Action (GMPA) have authored the new report which highlights the "inadequacy" of the current free school system for families.

Infants are guaranteed a free school meal in England but children in Year 3 and above must be in households on universal credit with an income below £7,400 per year (before benefits and after tax) in order to qualify.

This threshold has remained unchanged since 2018, despite the increase in inflation, and it means 100,000, or one in four school-age children in poverty across the North West can’t claim free meals.

This comes at a time when around one in three children in the region are below the poverty line and the cost-of-living crisis continues to have an affect on households.

The analysis shows that this means around 5,000 children in Oldham cannot access free school meals, despite living below the poverty line.

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The CPAG and GMPA have both called for local leaders to do what they can to help more children get free lunches, however they say the responsibility ultimately lies with the government to expand provision of free school meals across the country to tackle classroom hunger. 

The report outlines research which shows children’s health, attainment and even school attendance is better when free school meals are universal.

Cllr Arooj Shah, leader of Oldham Council, said: "When a child is living in poverty and cannot access free school meals, it's a glaring sign that our system is failing them. The current criteria simply doesn't reflect the harsh realities many families endure. It's not just about numbers; it's about human decency.

“We owe it to our children to provide them with the most fundamental of needs: nourishment. It's disheartening that we're even having this conversation in a society as advanced as ours. Our children, regardless of their backgrounds, deserve equitable opportunities from the outset.

“For me, this is personal. It's about setting the foundation right – ensuring that no child goes hungry. It's time for decisive action. I'll relentlessly pressure the Government in my role as Leader, to acknowledge this pressing issue and work toward a solution. Our children's well-being cannot wait, and neither should our resolve to address this injustice."

Both Kate Anstey, head of education for CPAG and Graham Whitham, CEO at GMPA, called on the government to introduce universal free school meals which would give families "breathing space" financially.

A spokesperson for the Department for Education said: “We understand the pressures many households are under, which is why we have extended eligibility for free school meals to more groups of children than any other government over the past half a century - doubling the number of children receiving free school meals since 2010 from one sixth to one third.

“We have also put protections in place to ensure that children who are eligible for free school meal retain that entitlement even if their household circumstances change.”