Terri Cheung, headteacher at Phoenix Primary in Liverpool, expressed concern that some students are falling asleep in class due to hunger. She highlighted that many families are struggling financially, with the cost of packed lunches being a significant burden. Her remarks were made during a rally outside the Labour conference, advocating for free school meals for all primary school children in England as part of the No Child Left Behind campaign. Cheung noted that hunger affects children’s concentration and behavior, leading to irritability and restlessness. She called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to consider the challenges faced by families living near the poverty line.
