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Parents give the thumbs up to free school meals

We spent yesterday afternoon speaking to parents whose children attend Ivydale Primary School about Southwark Labour's pledge to introduce free school meals for all primary school children. This is a pledge that I'm particularly proud to be standing on at the forthcoming local elections.

Parents of children at Ivydale School gave an overwhelmingly positive reaction to these plans. Labour's policy is to take money that is currently being wasted on consultants, lawyers and spin doctors and invest it to deliver free school meals. This will provide every child in a Southwark primary school with a healthy meal in the middle of the school day. Study after study shows the educational benefits that can come with a healthy meal during the school day. Removing the stigma attached to free school meals will also ensure that the many children eligible for meals, but who currently don't take them up, will do so.

We will be spreading the word about this proposal at all of the primary schools attended by Peckham Rye's children over the coming week.

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