Parents across Britain will be asked to pay significantly more for their children's school dinners from Monday, in a move that experts say will lead to thousands of poorer pupils missing out on healthy meals.
Prices will rise by up to 17% in some schools, with charges set to exceed £2.60 in the most extreme cases.
The higher charges come amid soaring food costs and in response to the government's decision to remove protection for a subsidy that has kept prices low in recent years.
The school dinner grant loses its ring-fencing on Monday and can be spent by schools or local authorities to cover gaps in other budgets. The Observer has learned that more than 30 local authorities intend to increase the cost to children in coming months.
Writing in today's Observer, chef and food campaigner Jamie Oliver says he hopes the government will continue to invest in "quality school food, and the integral support and training of kitchen staff". He writes: "I believe that any compromise on a child's right to a healthy school lunch... is child abuse on an unimaginable scale."
See more
