UPDATED guidance on the provision of school meals for SEND pupils is "huge" for parents, says the campaign organiser. 

Parent Natalie Hay started a national campaign in 2021 to stop disabled children or those with special educational needs (SEND) from missing out on free school meals. 

As a result, the government agreed to issue new guidance to local authorities by the end of March 2024 to promote common practice for this cohort of children and young people.

The guidance clarifies that schools’ existing legal duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled children also applies to food provision. This includes ensuring eligible disabled children can access their free school meals (FSM).

It also clarifies local authorities are expected to consider making food provisions for children educated otherwise than at school (EOTAS), who meet specific criteria.

READ MORE: Councillor who grew up in poverty calls for all pupils to get free school meals

Ms Hay said the update is "huge" for parents. "The newly updated free school meal government guidance has increased from three pages to 19 and now links the law. There are case studies, examples and references to the offer of a supermarket voucher as a practical substitution for children not able to eat at the canteen (or eat the canteen food) because of their SEN or disability, but are eligible for free school meals," she said.

Bridge2Care, a parent-carer support group for children with additional needs, covers Haydon Bridge and surrounding areas and has supported Ms Hay with her campaign by lobbying ministers at a national level.

Chairperson Hayley Turner said: "I am very pleased that the national campaign spearheaded by Natalie Hay has resulted in clearer guidance on FSM being provided by the government.

"The law has always been clear that under the Equality Act 2010, reasonable adjustments need to be made in ensuring access to FSM for children with disabilities who cannot access them in the usual manner, but unfortunately, this has frequently not happened for members of the group. The new guidance has made it clear that schools and local authorities have a duty to be anticipatory in this and not just respond to parents who request adjustments to be made."

Ms Turner has written to local schools which have children of Bridge2Care members on roll to make them aware of the new guidance.

"Having access to free school meals can make a huge difference to families who have children with additional needs or disabilities, as usually costs associated with raising disabled children is much higher. In some cases, this may be supermarket vouchers where the child is not at school or is unable to eat food provided by school catering, or it could be providing a packed lunch to be eaten in a quiet space (as has happened for one of our members’ children).

"It’s essential for the health and well-being of all children to be able to access appropriate nutrition and I hope this updated guidance will aid Bridge2Care members and other parents/carers in the area.

"When I first became involved in this campaign in the early part of last year, Guy Opperman was very supportive and contacted the local authority and his relevant colleagues in Westminster in support of the campaign and to help some of his constituents to access appropriate support prior to the new guidance being issued and I know those he has helped are very grateful for his support as our local MP.

"If any parent-carers feel they would like assistance with contacting their school about their child(ren)’s ability to access free school meals, they can email bridge2care@hotmail.com and a group member will do their best to assist."

Hexham MP Mr Opperman said: "These changes will make a huge difference. 

"Pupils who have special educational needs and disabilities deserve the same access to free school meals as any other eligible child. However, previous guidance to local authorities on how to support SEND pupils educated in an environment other than the classroom has not been as clear as it could have been. 

"That is why I have been supporting Hayley and other parents of SEND children to ensure vulnerable children educated outside of the classroom are fully supported with free school meals. 

"I am delighted that the Government has listened and has since updated official guidance to schools across England. 

"I am proud that the Government has invested over £1 billion to extend the eligibility of free school meals to support over a third of all school children from disadvantaged backgrounds with their education."

Angie Scott, county councillor for Prudhoe North, said: "As Labour’s Shadow Cabinet member for education on Northumberland County Council, and as a mother of a child with SEND, I am acutely aware of the challenges we face in delivering effective schooling for such young people. 

"The new government guidelines are all very well but without associated funding are effectively meaningless, particularly as local councils are already under-resourced.

"There is a wider issue which requires a much more fundamental response from the government. Good schools in our area are bursting at the seams in trying to accommodate the needs of children with diverse and different needs. Teachers, in a highly stressful situation, are also valiantly trying to deliver the best education for these children but are doing so with reduced resources.  

"The whole area of support for our children needs to be reviewed and drastically reorganised. I'm calling for central government to back their guidelines with increased financial support to meet the educational needs of the growing numbers of SEND pupils.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “This update will ensure more disabled children have access to school meals, including where relevant, free school meals.

“On top of this, we are increasing funding for young people with complex needs to over £10.5 billion this year - up 60 per cent in the last five years, and our SEND and AP improvement plan will reform the system across the country, with earlier intervention and consistent high standards.”