More than 11,000 people have already signed a new petition urging Rishi Sunak to extend free school meals to all primary school pupils to ensure no child goes hungry.
As cost of living pressures clobber Brits, the Prime Minister has been warned that the recent Autumn Statement was a "shameful missed opportunity" to end child hunger.
Around 800,000 kids living in poverty in England miss out on free dinners due to strict eligibility rules, according to the Child Poverty Action Group.
Under the current system, all children in England can get free school meals up to the end of Year 2 but after that they only qualify if their household claims certain benefits.
Pupils living in Universal Credit families are only eligible if their parents earn less than £7,400-a-year from work.
The Mirror and the National Education Union (NEU) are campaigning for all primary age kids to get free lunches to end child hunger and help boost their life chances.
Teachers have warned that kids are turning up to class too tired and hungry to learn, with staff having to dip into their own pockets to ensure they have enough to eat.
A recent survey for the Sutton Trust found more than half of state schools in England (52%) noted a rise in the number of children who can't afford lunch but don't qualify for the benefit this term.
Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: “In the run up to Christmas, schools will be doing their best to inspire some festive cheer in the classroom, but with hundreds of thousands of children missing out on the lifeline that is Free School Meals this is an ever more challenging job.
“No child should be in school feeling too hungry to learn.
"The recent Budget announcement was a shameful missed opportunity for Government to actively tackle the impact of growing poverty and the cost of living crisis on our young people – but it’s not too late for them to change their minds.”
38 Degrees Campaign Manager, Natasha Ives, said: “With more and more parents struggling to afford food, it’s more vital than ever that every single child is guaranteed a meal at school, to make sure they all have the best possible chance to learn.
"The 38 Degrees movement has already been fighting tirelessly to expand free school meals to all families on Universal Credit - including, this week, handing the Government the names of nearly 100,000 people demanding action to feed almost a million children who are currently missing out.
“With this even bolder petition, we can add yet more voices to a powerful movement of teachers, families, and Mirror readers nationwide - sending Rishi Sunak a message he simply can’t ignore.”
Sign the petition here
