An extra 350 children in Harrogate district secondary schools have become eligible for free school meals since the coronavirus pandemic began, figures reveal.
A total of 1,143 children were eligible in October 2021, compared with 796 in January 2020.
This means almost 1 in 10 children in the district are now eligible for free school meals. The national average is around 2 in 10.
The Stray Ferret obtained the figures from a freedom of information request to North Yorkshire County Council, the education authority for the district.
To qualify for free school meals a parent must apply to the council with evidence that they are receiving a benefit, such as child tax credit, income support or universal credit.
The issue of free school meals was highlighted following a campaign by Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford.
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Speaking at last week’s Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee, Helen Ingle, health improvement manager at NYCC, said the council was trying to encourage parents of key stage 1 age children to take up free school meals.
If a child is in reception, year one or year two they are automatically entitled to a free school meal.
Ms Ingle also said schools in the district had reported an increase in obesity since the pandemic began.
She said:
“[Covid] has had a massive impact on levels of overweight and obesity, we’re doing a lot of work around that. Schools are very concerned about healthy eating levels in schools and have noticed a change in children’s weight and eatings habits since covid.”
