Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of child poverty on educational attainment in Fylde constituency.

All children and young people should have every opportunity to succeed, no matter who they are or where they are from. The Opportunity Mission will break the unfair link between background and success.

High and rising standards are at the heart of this mission and the key to strengthening outcomes for all children no matter their background. The department will deliver this through excellent teaching and leaders, a high-quality curriculum, strong accountability with faster school improvement and an inclusive system which removes the barriers to learning.

​​This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling child poverty. We have now announced that we are extending free school meals to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit from September 2026. It will lift 100,000 children across England out of poverty and put £500 back in families’ pockets, supporting parents in decisive action to improve lives ahead of the Child Poverty Strategy coming later this year.

Providing over half a million children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds with a free, nutritious lunchtime meal every school day will also lead to higher attainment, improved behaviour and better outcomes, meaning children get the best possible education and chance to succeed in work and life.