Free School Meals For Infants 'Could Be Cut' In George Osborne's November Spending Review

Free School Meals 'Could Be Cut' By Government
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Free school meals for all infants 'could be cut' in George Osborne's spending review in November, it has been reported.

The Tories committed to providing free school meals for all children in reception, Year 1 and Year 2 at state schools in England in their 2015 manifesto, - a policy introduced by Nick Clegg in the coalition government.

It is estimated by the Government this saves parents £400 per child per year.

But Sky News revealed a cut is under consideration.

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The initiative initially faced criticism over the costs of fitting some schools with kitchens, however now many feel taking free school meals away could be damaging.

The possible change has come about after George Osborne was ordered to cut budgets by up to 40% in July 2015.

Since Sky News released their report, the Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has said this could be truly damaging.

PA reports that Farron said: "It's a terrible insult to the schools who have worked very hard over the last two years, in many cases to build kitchens and to bring in school meals at all for the first time, to take away free school meals from perhaps two million children, many of them coming from very poor backgrounds.

"All the evidence suggests that children who have a school meal every day are two months further on in their studies than those that don't.

"This is damaging to children, it's an insult to our schools and I guess it's a demonstration of what the Liberal Democrats did achieve when we were in power - these are the things you lose when we are not."

Jamie Oliver, who champions healthy diets especially for children, also feels dropping free school meals would be a disaster.

He told Sky News the initiative had been a "major step forward for children's health and academic performance", as most packed lunches "get nowhere near the nutritional standards set for school meals".

A Government spokesman told Sky: "We believe that every child, regardless of their background, should have the same opportunities.

"That is at the heart of what we are doing with school food – no child should be hindered because they are not eating a nutritious meal at lunchtime."

9 Healthy (and Tasty) Back to School Snacks
Super Seedy Trail Mix with Almonds, Chia, and Cranberries(01 of09)
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Make your trip back to school a little sweeter and bring a handful of this super seedy mix with you to snack on throughout the day. Get the recipe for this Trail Mix with Almonds, Chia, and Cranberries.
Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins(02 of09)
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These simple, gluten-free Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins will make Monday mornings a little easier and will make lunchboxes the envy of new friends. Get the recipe for Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins here.
Cashew Crunch Granola(03 of09)
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Don't fall asleep on your first day of school - power up with this healthy, sweet, and satisfying Cashew Crunch Granola for breakfast. Get the recipe here.
Baked Quinoa Cakes with Broccoli and Sweet Potatoes(04 of09)
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Needing some energy for your last class of the day? Revive yourself with these amazingly portable, healthy quinoa cakes. Get the recipe for these Baked Quinoa Cakes with Sweet Potatoes and Broccoli here.
No-Bake Granola Bars(05 of09)
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These easy, No-Bake Granola Bars are ideal for school bake sales! Bring some extra to snack on during your shift. Get the recipe for these No-Bake Granola Bars here.
Dark Chocolate Beauty Bark with Chia Seeds, Pepitas, and Goji Berries(06 of09)
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Look and feel your best on the first day of school with this Dark Chocolate Bark that includes lots of amazing skin-clearing and beautifying ingredients. Get the recipe for this Beauty Bark with Chia Seeds, Pepitas, and Goji Berries here.
Raw Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites(07 of09)
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Don't let your lousy alarm clock prevent you from getting a healthy breakfast! These Raw Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites are a sweet and satiating on-the-go meal. Get the recipe for these Raw Oatmeal Bites here.
Roasted Beet Hummus with Lemony Yogurt(08 of09)
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If you're gonna stress eat, do it healthfully with this bright and tasty Roasted Beet Hummus with Lemony Yogurt. Ge the recipe for this Roasted Beet Hummus here.
Maple Glazed Coconut Cashews(09 of09)
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Combat the back-to-school stress of broken nails and nail-biting by snacking on these Maple Glazed Coconut Cashews that are packed with lots of nail-strengthening B5 vitamins. Get the recipe for these Maple Glazed Coconut Cashews here.