The Healthy Start Scheme aims to reduce child poverty and health inequalities by providing vitamins, nutritional advice and weekly vouchers for nutritional food or infant formula to low income families with pregnant women and children up to the age of 4. It is intended to...
For many students, Thursday’s A – Levels results would have been a disappointment. Nearly 40% of all grades across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland were downgraded by one to two grades. Pupils at maintained and academy schools appear to have been disproportionately affected, with independent...
MG&Co has been instructed in a challenge to the Free School Meals eligibility criteria which means children in very low income families whose parents cannot claim welfare benefits because of their immigration status are not entitled to FSM. Our judicial review pre-action letter argues that the...
A leading anti-racist advocacy and campaigning charity, The Monitoring Group, will challenge Boris Johnson’ decision to appoint Dr Tony Sewell as Chair of the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparities (CRED). The group has instructed senior solicitor Chez Cotton of civil rights firm Matthew Gold...
On 10 July, following another threat of judicial review, the Government confirmed that the maximum earnings threshold for free school meals for children from families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) would be increased from £16,190 per year to £31,500 to families within London...
On 28 May 2020, following our threat of judicial review, the Government confirmed that the maximum earnings threshold for free school meals for children from families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) would be increased from £7,400 to £16,190 per year. For more information...
Following our previous threat of judicial review last month (read here), the Government agreed to extend Free School Meals to certain families with no recourse to public funds, including those who are permitted to work. However, the Government applied an earnings threshold for eligibility which...
MG&Co has issued proceedings challenging our client’s exclusion from the early years nursery scheme. In 2014 the government announced funding for a ‘fairness premium’ which entitled all disadvantaged 2-year-olds to 15 hours per week of free pre-school education. The scheme aimed to narrow the gap in...
Matthew Gold and Company solicitors has launched a legal challenge against the continued exclusion of many children from low-income families, including the children of key workers, from the Free School Meals scheme. Following a previous threat of judicial review (read here), the Government extended Free School...
On Tuesday 28 April the High Court will hear the case of a 16 year old child who claims he cannot meet his basic living needs because Bexley Council refuse to also provide support to account for his 19 year old brother. The case will...
In response to MG&Co’s letter threatening judicial review on behalf of six children, the Secretary of State for Education has agreed to extend free school meal entitlement during the current Covid-19 crisis. The original eligibility criteria required parents to be claiming certain welfare benefits. It therefore...
The Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson announced that “no child should go hungry as a result of measures introduced to keep people at home”. To meet that aim the government issued guidance providing that schools should continue to provide meals or vouchers for eligible children whilst...