Rachel Reeves has stated she “doesn’t recognise” stories suggesting ministers are reducing common free faculty meals for the youngest youngsters.
The chancellor is predicted to announce spending cuts for some authorities departments in her spring assertion to the Commons on Wednesday.
Schooling secretary Bridget Phillipson is reportedly trying to make £500 million in cuts to the colleges price range, and has apparently floated reducing common free faculty meals as a method to cut back prices.
Free faculty meals at lunchtime are at present accessible to all toddler youngsters (pupils who’re in reception and years one and two) in state-funded faculties in England.
Ms Phillipson has urged making them means-tested as an alternative, bringing them in step with the coverage for older youngsters, The Occasions reported.
The urged plans have been a part of negotiations with the Treasury forward of the spending evaluation, and different proposed cuts included stopping funding totally free interval merchandise and axing some dance, music and PE schemes, the paper reported.
The stories have been criticised by MPs, unions and campaigners who stated any transfer to take away common free faculty meals can be a “merciless choice” that would depart college students struggling and hungry at school.
Nevertheless Ms Reeves advised broadcasters on Monday: “This authorities is rolling out free breakfast golf equipment in all major faculties from April. I do not recognise these claims that the federal government are means-testing free faculty meals.
“In reality, this authorities are making certain that every one youngsters get a superb begin to the day with a breakfast membership, serving to working dad and mom and serving to all youngsters get a superb begin in life. That’s what this authorities is set to do after 14 years of Conservative failure.”
Based on estimates printed by the Division for Schooling, there have been 1.6 million toddler pupils recorded as taking a free faculty meal underneath the common scheme final yr. Of those, 1.3 million wouldn’t usually be eligible totally free faculty meals.
Labour MP Diane Abbott described the reported cuts as “austerity being imposed on the very youngest”.
And Kim Johnson MP, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, stated: “Scrapping common free faculty meals for some infants can be a merciless and short-sighted choice, leaving extra youngsters hungry and struggling at school.”
Liberal Democrat training spokesperson Munira Wilson MP stated “youngsters can’t be anticipated to be taught on empty stomachs”. She stated that if authorities went forward with the proposed plan “they need to cling their heads in disgrace”.
Paul Whiteman, normal secretary of college leaders’ union NAHT, stated: “After a decade of funding cuts there are not any extra financial savings to be discovered. Any discount in funding will subsequently have a direct influence on the training that faculties can present, and it’s pupils that may endure.
“We strongly urge the Chancellor to suppose once more earlier than asking youngsters and younger folks to tackle the burden of cuts – they deserve higher”.
Judith Gregory, chair of LACA, knowledgeable physique for college caterers and suppliers, stated that already “too many youngsters are slipping by way of the cracks” of means-tested meals.
She added: “This scheme has not solely diminished the stigma round free faculty meals however has additionally instilled wholesome consuming habits from an early age and fostered higher socialisation amongst youngsters.
“Scrapping common free faculty meals would depart essentially the most susceptible youngsters in danger.”
Professor of social mobility on the College of Exeter, Lee Elliot-Main, stated: “If we’re critical about breaking down obstacles to alternative and stimulating future financial development then further funds should be distributed to the hundreds of thousands of pupils who’re dealing with hardship exterior the varsity gates, not simply these on free faculty meals.
“We urgently want a evaluation of the billions spent by way of the pupil premium – to make sure that that is successfully allotted to stage the training taking part in subject.”
The Division for Schooling stated: “This authorities has made vital extra funding in training throughout early years, faculties, and schools, alongside steps to stabilise the monetary sustainability of universities.
“We are going to proceed to help lecturers and training leaders to make use of funding as effectively as attainable, whereas persevering with to ship higher life probabilities for kids and younger folks throughout the nation by way of our Plan for Change.”