FREE school meals could be off the menu for some Teignbridge pupils when term begins next week, as Government imposed changes start to bite.

The changes are part of the Government’s Universal Credit welfare policy.

From April 1 the annual earnings threshold for free school meals for children from Year 3 onwards will be £7,400, after tax and not including benefits, for all new applications.

Children already in the free school meal system are protected until March 31, 2022 or ‘the end of their phase of education’ in primary or secondary, whichever is later.

Cllr Alan Connett, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition at Devon County Council, said: ‘Schools are already under such great pressure and will start having to pick up the pieces if children are not to go hungry in the classroom.

‘We see the news that more and more families rely on local food banks for support, and a healthy school dinner is the one way we can ensure children not only do not go hungry but are able to get the best from their lessons. Who learns well on an empty tummy?’

For parents and carers on Universal Credit, children are entitled to free school meals no matter what. Those not on Universal Credit yet, but moving to it in future, are affected.

All state school-educated children in reception and Years 1 and 2, regardless of income, will continue to have a free school meal.

Across Devon 9,522 out of 99,389 pupils, 9.6 per cent, are eligible for free school meals based on income.

Cllr Connett added: ‘While the average county-wide rate for children entitled to free school meals is 9.6 per cent, there are wide variations with individual schools eligibility for free school meals showing rates of 45 per cent in North Devon and Torridge; 39 per cent in Exeter; 23 per cent in East Devon; 24 per cent in Teignbridge; 23 per cent in South Hams; 15 per cent in Mid Devon; and 13 per cent in West Devon.

‘Just this week, a report from the Child Poverty Action Group and National Education Union highlighted the problems of poverty in schools. It’s little short of a national scandal that the survey should highlight that poverty is having a significant impact on pupils’ learning, with schools giving children food, washing clothes and having to sort out basic needs before they can even begin to teach.

‘I can’t help notice that while voting for this damaging cut to our children’s welfare, Conservative MPs agreed the income cap in Northern Ireland for free school meals will nearly double at £14,000. Once again, children in Devon are being shortchanged by this Government.’

The Government said that by 2022 it expects 50,000 more children to have free school meals than under the previous benefits system.