The government is being urged to review a policy that campaigners say bars children of virtually destitute families from receiving free school meals because of their parents’ immigration status.

Headteachers and campaigners have expressed outrage that pupils who are among the poorest in society are missing out on free school meals because their parents have no access to benefits as a part of a condition known as “no recourse to public funds” (NRPF).

One headteacher, Ian Bennett, of Downshall primary school in Ilford, Essex, has been forced to take money from his education budget to feed 12 children in this predicament in his school and is angry that children are being penalised by “harsh” immigration policies. “It doesn’t feel right to me. They need to be treated compassionately.”

All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 at state schools in England automatically get free school meals, regardless of their immigration status, and refugees are entitled to free meals. But older children whose parents’ access to benefits is limited by the NRPF condition are being denied free meals, though many say they lack the means to pay.

Bennett has written to his local authority seeking help but was told there was no money. “Can it be right that I have to take from the maths budget to give this child food?” he said. “We are concerned about the welfare of these children. They must have an entitlement to a meal during the school day.”

The government says that no child will be refused access to free school meals because of their immigration status, but campaigners say the children are the casualties of family migration rules introduced in 2012 that block anyone granted limited leave to remain in the UK from receiving benefits, including families with children.

The government promised to review the policy within five years but campaigners are still waiting. They are hoping the recent focus on the government’s “hostile environment” immigration policies will put pressure on ministers to revisit the NRPF condition.

Three women – from Burundi, Nigeria and Ghana – whose children attend Downshall described what it’s like living with no recourse to public funds. They did not want to be identified but recounted the shame of not having enough money to buy food for their children and having to ask to stay with friends because they have nowhere to live.



One mother described how her two children were taken into temporary foster care because police found them on their own when she went out to try to find work so she could earn money to feed them.



She came home to find her children gone and a note from police telling her to come to the station. “It’s very, very hard. Sometimes I even think of killing myself, because for the children you don’t have anything.”

“When you have children and you can’t work, there’s no money coming in, it’s very stressful,” said another mother-of-two. “You keep asking friends for money. You can’t pay them back. Every month it would be – can I stay with you? Can I stay with you? It’s been hard for the children. The school is helping us with school dinners. It’s embarrassing really. You are not able to do things by yourself – just going up and down and asking for help. It feels so bad.”

A third mother cried as she described working five nights a week from 9pm to 6am, cleaning a bank in the City of London. Her pay barely covers her £1,295 rent each month. When she gets home she snatches a little sleep before taking her two children to school.



Her son has undiagnosed special needs and can only cope with a short session at school, after which she is responsible for him again. His behaviour is very challenging. “I barely rest. I barely have three hours’ sleep. I have to attend to my kids.”

According to a 2016 Children’s Society report, over a two-year period more than 50,000 individuals with dependents had the “no recourse to public funds” condition applied to their leave to remain.

Matthew Reed, the chief executive of the Children’s Society, said: “It is shocking to think of any child going hungry at school, but the reality is that there are thousands of children in the UK living in families who are facing destitution but being denied vital benefits like free school meals – all because of their immigration status.

“This can’t go on. When the government introduced this policy it promised to review it within five years, and it now urgently needs to make this promise a reality.

“Families with children under 18 should not have this punishing condition automatically applied to their leave to remain. The needs of the child must be the priority – and not their parents’ immigration status. No child should be left facing hunger, homelessness and destitution.”

Redbridge council, which covers Downshall school, said it was doing all it could it could to provide high level support with limited resources.

“There are currently 41 families with 83 children with no recourse to public funds. The council meets the full cost of rent and utilities and provides a living allowance to pay for food and other expenses they may have.

“As part of assessing those living allowances, we take account of the fact that they are unlikely to qualify for free school meals. We also work extensively with families until their claim is resolved by the Home Office, this includes supporting them with their legal status and linking them into charities that may offer additional support.”

A government spokesperson insisted that no child was refused access to free school meals because of their immigration status. “Free school meals are provided to disadvantaged pupils who need them and every child in reception, years 1 and 2 can get a free school meal, regardless of nationality or immigration status.

“If a family is deemed destitute and in need of financial support, the recourse to public funds condition will not be applied and their children will be able to get free school meals. In addition, families who qualify for support under section VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 are also entitled to free school meals.”

Gracie Bradley, of the human rights organisation Liberty, said: “With public opposition to the government’s hostile environment at fever pitch in the wake of the Windrush scandal, it’s time politicians recognised how objectionable it is to deny children living in poverty free school meals because of their immigration status.”

Kevin Courtney, the joint general secretary of the National Education Union, added: “Once again schools are being left to pick up the pieces to ensure children get at least one nutritious meal a day. We know that schools do all they can to ensure pupils are fed if they are hungry, subsidising breakfast clubs and providing snacks and lunches, but this is getting increasingly difficult with the pressure on school budgets.”

As well as feeding hungry children, Downshall primary – like many other schools across the country – is increasingly having to act like an ad hoc community and social services hub, organising meetings and helping write letters about immigration and housing for parents who have nowhere else to turn.

“Schools are filling a nurturing gap,” said Bennett. “It’s easier if you are in the Home Office and you are away from it. But we see the impact, the stress on the children. These families are committed to this country. These are people who want to contribute to our future, but we are not supporting them.”