NEU Pledge 2022

Every child should have a healthy school dinner, every day.

As educators, we see the difference it makes. When children are hungry they can’t learn. That much is clear. It’s hard for them to concentrate, their behaviour suffers and they struggle to keep up.

With local elections taking place on 5 May this presents a crucial chance to send a message to the UK Government free school meals for all are needed to end child poverty.

For the first three years of school, every child in England gets a hot dinner. But from year three on, the Government stops free school meals for all. This means millions of children miss out on a proper hot dinner at school, on the food they need to flourish.

Child hunger is an epidemic in our schools and last year 2.5 million children in England went short of food, an increase of 27% since before the pandemic. Families have been hit hard by the pandemic. Now, falling wages, rising living costs and skyrocketing energy bills will make life tougher still with bills for the average family increasing by £1,200 this year.

As the cost of living rises for everyone, the £457 saved on lunch per child will put money back in parents’ pockets each year, freeing up cash for other essentials like heating, clothing and activities.

Join our campaign by taking this pledge to ensure no child is left behind.

If I am elected as a local councillor, I pledge to do everything in my power so that no child is left behind –

  • I will call for the UK Government to introduce free school meals for all children of primary school age in England.
  • I will advocate for my council to introduce measures to eradicate child poverty for all local children.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Best wishes for the election campaign.