More than 2,000 children in Luton missed out on free school meals they were entitled to last year

A total of 2,462 children in Luton did not receive the free school lunch they were entitled to last year, figures have revealed.

Only 7,725 of the 10,190 of pupils in Year 3 and above who were eligible for free school meals, claimed them, according to Department for Education data – meaning almost a quarter of eligible children missed out.

Campaigners say the lack of take-up may be due to families feeling stigmatised and reluctant to claim even when struggling.

They are now calling for free school meals to be offered to all children to combat this stigma.

According to the data collected during a school census day for 2021/22, currently every state school pupil in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 is entitled to free school meals regardless of household income.

Parents or carers receiving benefits such as Universal Credit with a household income under £7,400 a year can also claim free school meals for older children.

You can find out if you are eligible to claim by visiting the UK Government website and apply on Luton Borough Council’s website.

Nationally, almost a quarter (24.5%) of the 1.9 million children in Year 3 and above known to be eligible for free school meals did not receive them, according to the Department for Education data. This means 465,000 youngsters were missing out.

In England Bracknell Forest had the greatest proportion of eligible children not taking a free lunch with 34.5%, followed by Reading with 34.3% and St Helen’s with 33.7%.

The Child Poverty Action Group is now calling on the Government to introduce universal free school meals.

Sara Ogilvie, group policy director, told our sister site, National World: “While it’s difficult to be precise about how many eligible children are not taking their free school meals, we do know that families and children still feel stigmatised – which is another reason to move towards free meals for all school kids.”

She added: “Around 800,000 children below the poverty line are not even eligible because the criteria is so restrictive and with so many families unable to pay bills right now, it’s clear that eligibility must be expanded so that every child can get a free, nutritious meal in school.

"No child should be going hungry in school because there isn’t much money at home.”

The UK Government said the Department for Education figures do not take into account children who were eligible for free school meals but off from school on the day of the census.

A spokesperson said: “We have expanded access to free school meals more than any other government in recent decades, which currently reaches 1.9 million children. We are also investing millions in the National School Breakfast Programme.

“The Chancellor has unveiled a new growth plan, taking decisive action to get households and businesses through this winter and the next, by growing the economy to raise living standards for everyone.”

Last week at Labour’s annual party conference, Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson committed to providing free breakfast clubs at every primary school in England under a Labour government.

Her move stopped short of committing to universal free school meals.