52 h. ago The Guardian view on child poverty: free school meals are a help, but not a panacea | Editorial

Giving lunch to more pupils is a good move – but poor nutrition points to deeper problems that ministers must faceIt was Ellen Wilkinson, education minister in the Attlee government, who announced in 1946 that free school dinners would be introduced, along with free school milk, at the same time as child benefit. No doubt Rachel Reeves, who has a picture of Wilkinson on the wall of her office, is aware of this – and also that the Treasury subsequently decided the policy was unaffordable. The meals were subsidised instead.Despite these initial charges, and later price rises, poorer children did gain, and keep, an entitlement to free school meals. The announcement last week that this is being extended in England to all those whose parents or carers claim universal credit – rather than restricted to families with incomes lower than £7,400 – should be welcomed by all objectors to child poverty. Being assured of a hot lunch in the middle of the school day makes pupils’ lives be...

Politics

3 d. ago Protests after death of baby boy who lived in ‘mouldy and damp’ north London flat

Akram Mohammed’s parents claim ‘no one’ from Notting Hill Genesis helped depite repeated requests for repairs

Events

5 d. ago HMRC sending letters to parents urging them to take action before summer deadline

Parents of teenagers will receive a letter about their Child Benefit claim.

Events

1 week ago Baby’s cause of death revealed as family say the puppy originally blamed for her killing has not been put down

‘I did not kill my child’, the baby’s mother Lillian Burton protested days after her daughter’s death

Events

1 week ago Neighbours 'traumatised' after baby, mum and granddad mauled by 'American Bully'

The one-year-old girl suffered 'serious' and 'life-changing' injuries to her face

Events

1 week ago Baby among one of three mauled in horror dog attack which left people 'covered in blood'

Shocked locals watched the incident unfold in a residential street, and were left saddened.

Events

1 week ago Baby rushed to hospital after being mauled by dog as armed police swarm street

Armed police and an air ambulance have been called to a residential street in Greater Manchester after a dog attacked three people including a one-year-old child

Events

1 week ago People 'covered in blood' after adults and baby mauled in horror dog attack

'Several' people were reportedly attacked by the pet dog in a nearby home

Events

1 week ago Katie Price's daughter Princess Andre claims she bought £30k first car herself as she says 'I make my own money'

Princess Andre has hit back at trolls who claimed her famous parents, Peter Andre and Katie Price, bought her her very first car after she shared a snap of the vehicle.

Economics

1 week ago Parents thought their pitbull puppy mauled their baby to death while they slept. An autopsy says otherwise

Kiyanna Winfield was found dead in a New York apartment, after neighbors heard screams

Events

1 week ago Parents claimed their pitbull puppy mauled their baby to death. Autopsy says that’s not true.

‘We can confirm this is not a death from a dog mauling’, a medical examiner’s office spokesperson said

Events

1 week ago Newborn baby mauled to death by family puppy as she slept in bed beside her mother

No charges have been filed and, the animal was removed from the scene

Events

1 week ago Parents in Scotland urged to claim devolved payment worth £108 every month

More than 233,000 parents are receiving extra financial support through the Scottish Child Payment.

Economics

2 w. ago Turkish health chiefs break silence on death of Brit mum Beth Martin after shock autopsy

Mother-of-two Beth Martin tragically died after coming down with a mysterious illness just as she arrived on holiday - and Turkish officials have now released a statement addressing her death

Events

2 w. ago Beth Martin's family 'decimated' after Brit mum's death on holiday before horror autopsy result

The tragic death of mum-of-two Beth Martin has left her family 'decimated' - she complained of feeling 'unwell' before tragically dying while on holiday in Turkey

Events

2 w. ago Spanish grid operator faults big power plants in blackout blame game

Some large electricity generators were not doing their job to help control voltage, claims parent company’s chair

Politics

3 w. ago HMRC warns parents over Child Benefit payments as deadline looms

The deadline applies to parents who are claiming Child Benefit with children aged 16 and are continuing in education or approved training, and parents are being urged to take action

Events

3 w. ago HMRC sending important letters to parents urging them to take action before July

Parents of teenagers will receive a letter about their Child Benefit claim.

Politics