English schools forced to subsidise infants' free meals after 3p funding rise, say headteachers

Primary schools in England will be forced to subsidise free school meals for infants from their own budgets after a "pitiful" 3p increase in funding, according to school leaders.

- Richard Adams

The Department for Education announced that its funding for universal infant free school meals would rise from £2.58 to £2.61 per child in September, with the 3p rise well below expected inflation and wage increases facing schools.

Joseph Howes, the chair of the End Child Poverty coalition and chief executive of the children's charity Buttle UK, said: "A 3p increase to cover the cost of school meals, which are not even available to all primary-aged children, let alone all poorer children, is just not good enough."

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said the existing rate was already below the estimated £3.16 a day it costs schools in England to provide a hot meal.