Free school meals scheme made permanent by council
A scheme that helped feed hundreds more children has been made permanent.
Pupils who were entitled to free school meals, but were not receiving them, were automatically enrolled as part of a trial in Middlesbrough.
Since September, 546 more children in the town have received a meal as a result of the initiative, Middlesbrough Council said.
Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke said it had been a "massive success".
The approach, which could save families an average of £400 per year, was made permanent earlier in March.
An administration fee of 10% will be charged for processing free school meals which are not administered by the council.
The Labour-led authority said money raised would go towards its welfare support service or the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme, which helps provide activities and a healthy lunch for children during the school holidays.
Automatic enrolment has also unlocked about £765,000 in government funding for schools in Middlesbrough in this academic year alone, the council said.
Pupil premium funding is used to improve outcomes for disadvantaged students and is allocated to schools based on how many children are receiving free school meals.
Primary schools are granted £1,480 per child, with secondaries receiving £1,050.
The auto-enrolment scheme has also run in Stockton-on-Tees, where 324 more children received a free school meal as a result of it.
It helped to secure about £421,000 in additional pupil premium funding.
Labour-led Stockton Borough Council's cabinet endorsed the scheme in October and it will be considered for the new academic year in September.
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Free school meals auto-enrolment 'way forward'
Free school meals trial feeds 20,000 more children
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