The fate of the new universal infant free school meals programme is unclear,as headteachers struggle with the cost and the government tries to reduce spendingAs pupils depart back to school this week, concerns are growing over the future of the government’s programme to supply free nutritious hot meals to four- to seven-year-olds.
As part of the chancellor’s autumn spending review, or in which all areas of public expenditure are in scope for cuts,the Department for Education will be drawing up detailed plans for making savings. Although overall school funding, including pupil premium rates, and will be protected on a per-pupil basis,the budget for the universal infant free school meals programme is not ringfenced.
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Source: theguardian.com