The link between nutrition and learning in schools is no longer disputed. Indeed, we are now seeing real concern that the gains made with breakfast clubs and improvements in access to free school meals are being lost, as child poverty levels rise and real data comes through on poor diet and its impact on young people’s health.
We are seeing an increase in both overweight and underweight children in schools, and nutritional problems including rickets are present. Many schools are having to adapt in the light of major cuts to the programmes that supported breakfast club initiatives and fruit in schools. Charging even a nominal sum is a dilemma, especially as the issue is not as simple as free school meals. The nature of the system is such that many children fall out of eligibility.
Part of the solution at primary level has seen some Labour councils bravely roll out universal meals for all primary schools, but the needs of the older learner are still significant. At secondary level, over the last two years support for good food provision on the part of headteachers and principals has grown yet further, and I now hear much from heads of high schools about issues of welfare, with the situations they are having to confront getting serious.
To a certain extent secondary heads can respond. But college principals and further education staff are faced with the same issues yet are unable to respond with a proper programme. On entering further education institutions, those who would be eligible for free school meals in sixth suddenly become ineligible at college.
A structural legacy of unfairness remains here – many learners from homes affected by child poverty attend further education colleges. Currently, the provision of a free school meal is just that: a school meal. This also applies to work-based learning programmes as well, where better provision is also needed. For our looked-after children we have to provide meals, which rather makes the point, but those on free school meals lose out again.
It’s not fair, logical or consistent, and it is a problem for recruitment and retention, and also means the support viable for young people of the same age and circumstances is unequal. It’s also not as though being on free school meals has to be stigmatising any more: the swipe card systems now available allow cashless transactions and choices. The impact of daytime hunger, the stigma and the pressure all militate massively against learning.
The relationship between the further education and school sector is changing: funding is now level-pegging and there are huge pressures on some school sixth forms, as with the raising of the age of participation the numbers of learners in work-based learning settings and further education colleges. I would argue, based upon experience, that many of these young people are more likely to be experiencing family poverty pressure.
So let’s do the right thing and introduce free school meals for further education learners. It would improve attendance, outcomes and wellbeing, and ensure the money spent of the courses is more likely to be effective. The reduction pressure on parents would be very significant, and that would help nurture support for learning.
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Ralph Berry is lead member for children on Bradford city council. He tweets @CllrRalphBerry
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