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Call to extend free school meals to pupils from low-income migrant families

FREE school meals should be permanently extended to pupils from low-income migrant families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), campaigners are demanding.

A letter to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson signed by 60 organisations including the Children’s Society, Unison and Action for Children urges ministers to make the change.

NRPF is a condition applied to those given a temporary immigration status and who have not yet qualified for permanent residency.

The Children’s Society points to research by the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford which indicates that at the end of 2019 an estimated 175,643 under-18s lived in families affected by NRPF.

In April this year, when the coronavirus outbreak forced schools to close, the government temporarily extended free school meals to children in some of those families.

However, concerns have now been raised over how long the support will continue.

Sam Royston, director of policy and research for the Children’s Society, said: “It is unacceptable that thousands of children, whose lives have already been turned upside down by the pandemic, could lose out on free school meals.

“Adjusting to being back at school will already be a tremendous challenge for most, but whether a child is able to eat should not depend on their parents’ immigration status.

“The latest figures show that the number of children affected by the NRPF condition is increasing, meaning many more are now at risk.

“The extension of free school meals for children affected by NRPF has been a lifeline, but we know that the impact of the pandemic will be felt for years to come.

“The government must permanently extend free school meals to all low-income migrant families who have no recourse to public funds, to help ensure that every child can return to school with the hope of a bright future.”

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: “We have temporarily extended free school meal eligibility to include some children of groups who have no recourse to public funds in light of the current unique circumstances many families face at this time.

“This will continue for the duration of the summer holidays and while the outbreak impacts schools.”

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