Our motion calls for ensuring that school meal debt doesn't negatively impact a pupil, be that through stress, stigma or even having to go without food, as we have heard in some cases. Consideration should always be given to why school meal debt could have accrued. The reason is never within the control of the child, the child that it affects and harms. The child should therefore never suffer the consequences of that debt. This needs to go beyond guidance. This should be put on a statutory footing, as well as the financial sustainability of school catering services ensured.

Beyond the expansion of free school meals, some helpful initiatives to help pupils are, of course, already in place. But their effectiveness is sometimes held back due to the low take-up of numbers of those entitled to that help. This is an area where the Government could really make a difference. Targeted entitlements to meet the education costs of children and young people, like the pupil deprivation grant access grant and the EMA, the education maintenance allowance, help increase income, are key to addressing poverty. But research shows that not every eligible family receives what they are entitled to, either through a lack of awareness or because of the nature of the application process. One parent's words, contained in the Child Poverty Action Group report, sums this up well:

'I wish that there was a handout listing the places that we could get help but I feel that because we both work we wouldn’t qualify for the help anyway.'

There is therefore a common misconception that children are automatically ineligible for support such as free school meals and PDGA if their parents or carers are in any form of paid employment. It is also important to note that three quarters of children in poverty already live in a household where someone is in work.

The Child Poverty Action Group estimates that around 55,000 children in poverty are not eligible for free school meals, meaning that they are unable to access PDGA as well. Especially given the cost-of-living crisis, it is crucial that all families are receiving all the benefits to which they are entitled. Measures such as the employment of advice workers at schools, or adopting automatic registration and application-free passporting of entitlements would remove barriers and ensure uptake.

In adopting the new curriculum, schools should be required to ensure that no pupil need buy materials or equipment to take part in certain subjects. We need to reduce or remove these costs for all pupils. Education should be all-inclusive. You shouldn't have to pay to learn any subject at school.

The new curriculum blends many subjects into each other, meaning that costs and charges for resources could appear in subjects that used to be more affordable. The new curriculum and the commitment to universal free school meals in primary school present a golden opportunity to create a truly inclusive education system, but only if we face up to the issues and the barriers that are currently affecting children of families on low incomes.

I look forward to hearing the contributions of Members across the Chamber on this important issue, and urge every Member to support our motion. No child or young person should feel left out because of the economic pressures on their families. We must act to reduce the impact that poverty clearly has on learning and opportunities. Diolch.