Free meals and breakfast clubs support local families

You deserve to celebrate, and I wish you all the best for whatever you choose to do next.

This month, children are going back to school, and this Labour government is helping them to thrive and helping their parents with the cost of living.

From this academic year, 11,000 children in Barking and Dagenham will have free school meals thanks to new changes by the government that make all children in families on Universal Credit eligible.

Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 already receive free school meals under the Universal Infant Free School Meals programme, but the changes mean more children and young people in school will have access to nutritious meals at school.

Previously, a child's household income had to be £7,400 or lower to be able to access free school meals.

MP Nesil Caliskan celebrates the expansion of free school meals and the introduction of breakfast clubs (Image: Nesil Caliskan)

The new changes from government will save families up to £500 a year per child and make sure their children have access to nutritious meals during the school day.

Barking and Dagenham also has eight new free breakfast clubs coming this autumn at Northbury Primary School, Southwood Primary School, The Sydney Russell School, Riverside Bridge School, Dorothy Barley Junior Academy, Riverside Bridge School, Becontree Primary School and The James Cambell Primary School.

Parents tell me how helpful it is having these school breakfast clubs.

Children can start the day with food in their tummy and ready to learn.

I encourage parents in Barking and Dagenham to check if your child is eligible for free school meals and apply on the government website.

Eligibility may not be automatically applied and so to make sure your child has access from the beginning of the school year, check the government website and apply through Barking and Dagenham council.

Applying will also help local schools potentially access extra funding for your children's education.

Investing in early years and education is a top priority of this Labour government and that’s why as well as breakfast clubs Barking and Dagenham has received an additional £7 million for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) education this year.

No matter your background, the government is making sure all children and young people have the best start in life.

Nesil Caliskan is Labour MP for Barking.