AT LEAST two in five children living under the poverty line were not eligible for free school meals before the pandemic hit, new analysis from Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) shows.

The figure accounts for 1.3 million children in families in low-paid work across Britain but who do not qualify because of stringent eligibility criteria. 

CPAG estimates that another 100,000 schoolchildren across Britain, who are not covered by universal infant free school meals, are in families with no recourse to public funds because of their immigration status.