Hunger Ask 3

Ensure a good start in life and support for children and families through:

• supporting breastfeeding through the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative;

• setting a target to increase Healthy Start uptake; and

• supporting free school meals and holiday provision with food for all potentially eligible families; working to ensure that these are healthy and sustainably sourced

Why?

In January 2021, the Haringey Council Cabinet agreed to expand the eligibility criteria for Free School Meals set out by the government. As part of Haringey’s ambition to create a fairer and more equal borough, the most-in-need groups of children in Years 3 to 6 (Key Stage 2) who were not eligible for support under the government scheme, were made eligible for Free School Meals from the beginning of the Autumn Term 2021. As many as 1,200 extra children received Free School Meals as a result. (Source: Good Food for All Londoners, 2021).