Fear of children still missing out on vital free school meals

As pupils head back to school this week, nearly a quarter of them are now eligible for free school meals, with numbers set to rise as families face the biggest income squeeze in decades.

Yet, children living in poverty affected by the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition, who are among the most vulnerable in our society because they and their families are cut off from the welfare safety net – are still unable to access free school meals, despite a recent policy change.