A Church of England headteacher has pleaded with the Government not to axe England's £800m pound free school meals programme.
The cut could come in the Chancellor's November spending review, even though the Tories committed to the policy in their manifesto, according to a report by Sky News.
"They're more comfortable in the afternoon, more settled. I think we've got the system running, children are benefiting; please don't take it away from them," said Jack Hatch, headteacher at St Bede CofE Primary Academy in Bolton.
The programme, brought in by Nick Clegg under the Coalition Government saves parents in England around £400 pounds per child, per year.
TV chef Jamie Oliver has also said "it would be a disaster" if the policy was dropped.
Oliver claims the initiative has been "a major step forward for children's health and academic performance", as most packed lunches "get nowhere near the nutritional standards set for school meals".
A Government spokesman said: "We believe that every child, regardless of their background, should have the same opportunities.
"That is at the heart of what we are doing with school food – no child should be hindered because they are not eating a nutritious meal at lunchtime."
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Article by Desmond Busteed
Desmond Busteed is a multimedia journalist for Premier.
