Problems with the way FSM are operated mean that as many as 11 per cent of eligible pupils miss out – a figure which rises to 30 per cent in some areas.
The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) raised the issue once again last week to coincide with National School Meals Week. The NAHT says that “chaotic home lives” for some families mean that applying for FSM is “the last thing they consider”. Furthermore, since the introduction of universal FSM up to year 2, some families do not think they need to apply at all for FSM to continue in year 3 and beyond.
The NAHT wants to see a change in how FSM is operated, with automatic registering of pupils for FSM based on the information held by local authorities. It is now lobbying for a change to the Digital Economy Bill, which is currently moving through Parliament.
NAHT general secretary Russell Hobby said: “We have long campaigned for the burden on parents to claim FSM to be removed. Councils hold a large amount of information on families claiming a range of benefits, but do not automatically share this with schools. This should change.
“Automatically registering children for FSM by sharing this data would help many thousands of children benefit from FSM, and also help them further by providing their school with access to the additional Pupil Premium funding to support the education of children on FSM.
“The Digital Economy Bill currently going through Parliament could allow this to happen if the government amends it in the right way. This is a small change that could have a huge impact on combating social disadvantage.”
FSM are offered to any student whose family’s annual earnings fall below a certain threshold – around £15,000 a year. However, the measure has been criticised by headteachers who say it does not perfectly capture poverty, with many families who are not eligible but still struggling to get by.