1,300 extra kids in Devon to get free college meals

Around 1,300 kids in Devon are actually getting free college meals who weren’t beforehand entitled to it.

Devon County Council and Torbay Council have modified the foundations in order that households who’re entitled to free college meals mechanically get the meals with out having to use.

The enhance within the variety of eligible kids additionally brings with it further “pupil premium” funding which can be utilized to supply further assist to pupils from deprived backgrounds.

Cornwall Council agreed to introduce the identical scheme from September 2026 and mentioned it believed it might have an effect on round 1,800 kids, whereas Plymouth City Council mentioned it was additionally contemplating the potential of making modifications.

Percentage of kids receiving free college meals In the Devon County Council space This has steadily elevated from 9.6% in 2016/17 to lower than 20% by 2023/24.

At current, a household should earn lower than £7,400 a yr to qualify totally free college meals.

Devon County Council mentioned it was the primary county council within the nation to introduce auto-enrolment for pupils whose household earnings made them entitled.

The council mentioned there are actually round 21,065 pupils receiving free college meals, a rise of round 1,065 on account of computerized enrolment.

Liberal Democrat Julian Brazil, chief of Devon County Council, mentioned the applying course of totally free college meals had been a “barrier” for some households.

He mentioned: “This is one of those initiatives that makes complete sense – it's good for pupils and it's good for schools.”

The modifications additionally imply that faculties within the Devon County Council space will obtain an additional £1.5m, which is able to embody an additional £1,515 per main pupil and £1,075 per secondary pupil on free college meals.

Moira Marder is the chief government of the Ted Wragg Trust, which has 18 faculties in Devon.

He mentioned: “The additional pupil premium funding unlocked by this policy will enable us to provide more targeted interventions and additional support to these students, taking us one step closer to breaking the unfair link between disadvantage, opportunity and outcomes.”

According to analysis executed by Charity End Child Poverty in affiliation with Loughborough University27% of kids within the south-west of England have been residing in poverty in 2023/24.

The determine was highest within the Plymouth Sutton and Devonport space – at 35% of kids – and in Torbay at 32%.

Sonia Duggan, who works for the charity Action for Children in Paignton, welcomed extra kids getting free college meals, however mentioned many households have been nonetheless struggling to make ends meet.

She mentioned: “Auto-enrolment is great. However, it doesn't touch the surface for some of our families.

“Our families are living in poverty. Everything has increased – all their bills, fuel costs, their food, everything.

“We have families who are working, who can't support their children.”