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Free school lunches on offer for all infant school children from next year

All infant school children in England will be eligible for free school meals from September 2014.

In plans unveiled by the Deputy Prime Minister at the Liberal Democrat conference in Glasgow, universal free school meals will be provided for all Reception class, Year 1 and Year 2 children in all state-funded schools.

Ministers estimate that the proposal should save families more than £400 a year per child.

Free school meals will also be extended to disadvantaged students in further education and sixth form colleges. Currently only students in school sixth forms are eligible.

The plan has been costed at £600m but more details on the funding will follow in the Autumn statement.

Nick Clegg said, ‘My ambition is that every primary school pupil should be able to sit down to a hot, healthy lunch with their classmates every day.

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