A new initiative to enrol children for free school meals automatically has been approved with the aim of increasing the number children registering for the free meals - saving families hundreds of pounds a year.
Currently families have to opt-in to register for free school meals but the Council has gained approval to progress the pilot scheme which will start from September meaning all children entitled to the meals will be automatically enrolled.
Hundreds of households will benefit from the new registration scheme, although parents and guardians will be able to opt-out if they wish.
The Council will use its existing data to confirm eligibility and households in the borough will receive a letter about the pilot scheme in the coming days.
As well as saving families about £400 a year per child, greater enrolment could lead to extra Government funding amounting to hundreds of thousands of pounds for schools across the borough.
Families will also be able to benefit from free holiday activities as part of the Holiday Activities and Food (known locally as the Bring it on Redcar and Cleveland) programme. Access to a healthy meal for every eligible child will also contribute towards the Council’s Plan 2024-2027 which is designed to reduce child poverty in the borough.
Letters will be sent to parents and guardians who live in Redcar and Cleveland with children attending school within the borough.
For others who live outside Redcar and Cleveland but have children who attend school within the borough, please visit https://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/schools-and-education/free-school-meals or email educationalbenefits@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk for information on the application process.
Families living within Redcar and Cleveland with children attending schools in other boroughs should contact their child’s school for details on how to apply.
Cllr Bill Suthers, Cabinet Member for Children, said:
“This will have big positive impact for many hundreds of families who really need extra support right across our borough. It’s not only about making sure every child receive a good, daily meal but also the impact for families in the school holidays and the schools which will receive more Government funding. It’s been tested elsewhere in the country and has provable benefits. It’s an excellent scheme.”
Cllr Ursula Earl, Cabinet Member for Health, Welfare and Housing, said:
“Nothing is more important than the health of our children. This means more of them will receive a high-quality meal each day while helping families struggling to get by. It’s a positive move first and foremost for our children.”
Research shows that 10 per cent of eligible families miss out on free school meals nationally and that figure is slightly higher in the North East at 11 per cent, according to The Child Poverty Action Group.
Schools receive extra ‘pupil premium’ funding based on the number of free school meal children they have. Funding for eligible primary school children is £1,480, with secondary schools receiving £1,050 for their students.
In Sheffield, where auto-enrolment was introduced in 2016, it's estimated the policy has resulted in 5,000 children benefiting, with approximately £3.8 million generated in pupil premium funding for schools. A similar pilot scheme is also being established in Middlesbrough.