Thousands of children to get free school meals

THOUSANDS more children across the West Midlands are to get free school meals under plans designed to address child poverty.

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For the first time, all children in households claiming Universal Credit will be entitled, and older children also qualify.

It means from next year, children will get a free meal every school day from Reception up to the end of Year 11.

The move was warmly welcomed by city MPs and the region’s mayor Richard Parker.

The plan goes a way to addressing the child poverty emergency highlighted by The Post, which lobbied for extended access to free meals alongside local activists and charities.