Primary school children in County Durham will benefit from a £20 million Government scheme to provide free school meals.
County Durham has been named as one of three local authorities in England that will undertake a two-year Government trial to see if providing free school meals for every primary school pupil will help improve children’s health, concentration and behaviour.
Helen, who worked for two children’s charities before becoming an MP, supported Durham County Council’s application to become a pilot area, and is delighted that the application has been successful.
Helen said:
“This is tremendous news for children and parents in Durham.
It is important to ensure that children are healthy and able to concentrate at school, and research has shown that free school meals can really help.
Co. Durham has some of the most deprived wards in the country and I am sure that local children and parents will really benefit from this excellent project”.
The free school meals pilot will start in September 2009, and will run for two years. The Government will then consider the results before deciding whether to roll out the scheme across England.
