Thousands of children across Devon are now automatically receiving free school meals following a significant policy shift by local authorities, removing a major barrier for struggling families.
Breaking Down the Barriers
Devon County Council and Torbay Council have overhauled their system, meaning families who qualify for free school meals due to their income now receive them automatically, without needing to navigate a complex application process. This pioneering auto-enrolment scheme, believed to be the first of its kind implemented by a county council in England, has already seen a substantial impact.
The council confirmed that approximately 21,065 pupils are now benefiting from free school meals. Crucially, around 1,065 of these children in Devon, plus an estimated 300 more in Torbay, have been added to the rolls specifically because of the new automatic system.
Leadership and Educational Impact
Julian Brazil, the Liberal Democrat leader of Devon County Council, stated that the old application process had acted as "a barrier" for some households. He championed the new initiative, saying, "This is one of those initiatives that makes absolute sense - it's good for pupils and it's good for schools."
The benefits extend beyond daily nutrition. Moira Marder, chief executive of the Ted Wragg Trust which operates 18 schools in the region, highlighted the additional pupil premium funding that this policy unlocks. She explained this extra resource will enable schools to "offer more targeted interventions and extra support to these students, moving one step closer to breaking the unfair link between disadvantage, opportunity and outcomes."
A Welcome Change Amid Ongoing Struggles
While the auto-enrolment has been widely welcomed, experts caution that it is not a complete solution to child poverty. Sonia Duggan, from the charity Action for Children in Paignton, praised the automatic registration but pointed to the deeper crisis many working families face.
"The auto-enrolment is great. However, it's not going to touch the surface for some of our families," she said. "Our families are living in poverty. Everything has increased - all their bills, fuel costs, their food, everything. We have families that are working, that cannot afford to feed their children."
The success in Devon is setting a precedent elsewhere. Cornwall Council is scheduled to introduce its own automatic enrolment system from September 2026, a move expected to benefit a further 1,800 children.
