More than 1,200 children in Macclesfield are to receive free school dinners.

The Government has announced that half a million more children will receive a Free School Meal from September 2026.

MP Tim Roca welcomed this news, hopeful it will go some way to driving down the number of children living in poverty.

Mr Roca said: "This historic initiative will not only enhance attainment, behaviour and learning, but will put £500 back in the pocket of hard-working families.

"For us in the Macclesfield area this means that about 1,200 more kids will be entitled to Free School Meals.

"Alongside the roll out of free breakfast clubs, cutting the cost of school uniform and 30 hours funded childcare, the government is taking serious steps to make sure that every child, regardless of background, will get the start in life that they deserve.

"Child poverty is a scar on our society and Labour will lift 100,000 children out of poverty with this initiative.

"Under the Tories the number of children in poverty grew to 900,000 and I'm proud that this government aims to drive those numbers down by expanding access to Free School Meals."

From the start of the 2026 school year, every pupil whose household is on Universal Credit will have a new entitlement to free school meals.

This will put £500 back into parents' pockets each year and help to lift 100,00 children across the country completely out of poverty.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "Working parents across the country are working tirelessly to provide for their families but are being held back by cost-of-living pressures.

"My government is taking action to ease those pressures.

"Feeding more children every day, for free, is one of the biggest interventions we can make to put more money in parents' pockets, tackle the stain of poverty, and set children up to learn.

"This expansion is a truly historic moment for our country, helping families who need it most and delivering our Plan for Change to give every child, no matter their background, the same chance to succeed."