Nearly a quarter of families with children under five are living in food poverty, new analysis by the Education Policy Institute has found. For families with at least one disabled adult, the rates increase to more than a third.
Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor MBE, Chair of the LGA’s Health and Wellbeing Committee, said: “Supporting children and young people to lead happy and fulfilling lives is one of the most important jobs councils do, but there needs to be an increased focus on preventative measures to reduce pressure on local services.
“The recent extension of free school meals to all children in households on universal credit helps families to absorb financial pressures. However, challenges remain for some low-income households on the margins of eligibility and those with younger children.
“It is important that councils are not left to pick up the pieces of a larger problem. Government should keep eligibility under review for both free school meals and the Healthy Start Scheme for pre-school children, to ensure support reaches families who need it most.”