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Following the payoff from the hard work of councillors and @MarcusRashford, @MagriniElena and I looked at where the government's U-turn on providing free school meals will have the greatest impact. 
Brief findings in (my first) thread below... https://www.centreforcities.org/blog/where-will-benefit-most-from-the-governments-u-turn-on-free-school-meals/
Brief findings in (my first) thread below... https://www.centreforcities.org/blog/where-will-benefit-most-from-the-governments-u-turn-on-free-school-meals/
1\\ The U-turn is great news for all places but cities with more eligible students will feel the effect most strongly.
With almost 27% of students eligible, the decision will have the greatest effect in Liverpool (>25k students) followed by Hull and Birmingham (23%).
With almost 27% of students eligible, the decision will have the greatest effect in Liverpool (>25k students) followed by Hull and Birmingham (23%).
2\\ Cities with the highest shares of students eligible for FSM are mostly in the North and Midlands and cities with lower shares of eligible pupils are mostly in the Greater South East.
(You can explore these figures on the interactive map in the blog )
(You can explore these figures on the interactive map in the blog )
3\\ Cities in the North and Midlands tend to be more disadvantaged on other measures and it is these areas that will have been the worst affected by the recent school closures.
The U-turn is important to avoid a double disadvantage further hampering children in these places.
The U-turn is important to avoid a double disadvantage further hampering children in these places.
4\\ To minimise the learning gap that the pandemic has created between better and less well off pupils, Government should expand its 'summer catch up' plans to support the children who are most at risk of being disadvantaged.
