{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/778479.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":778479,"attributes":{"action":"Fund free meals for disadvantaged children in registered early years settings","background":"We call on the Government to fund free meal entitlements for all disadvantaged children accessing government-funded early education in registered early years settings, comparable to the support available through free school meals.","additional_details":"Many families struggle to meet the additional cost of meals charged by early years providers, potentially limiting children’s access to funded early education. Early years settings also face significant financial pressures and cannot always absorb these costs. We believe the Government should fund free, nutritious meals for eligible disadvantaged children directly, ensuring that early years providers can remain financially sustainable and that no child is excluded because of their family’s financial circumstances.","committee_note":"","state":"open","signature_count":20,"closing_date":"2027-03-04","created_at":"2026-07-29T16:07:51.137Z","updated_at":"2026-09-04T21:22:20.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-09-04T11:11:45.248Z","closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-07-29T17:56:40.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":"Meredith Hobson","rejection":null,"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"DfE","name":"Department for Education","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education"}],"topics":[],"signatures_by_country":[{"name":"United Kingdom","code":"GB","signature_count":20}],"signatures_by_constituency":[{"name":"Brent West","ons_code":"E14001123","mp":"Barry Gardiner MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Chester South and Eddisbury","ons_code":"E14001164","mp":"Aphra Brandreth MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Colne Valley","ons_code":"E14001177","mp":"Paul Davies MP","signature_count":4},{"name":"Derby South","ons_code":"E14001194","mp":"Baggy Shanker MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"East Wiltshire","ons_code":"E14001217","mp":"Danny Kruger MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Eastbourne","ons_code":"E14001219","mp":"Josh Babarinde MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Halifax","ons_code":"E14001262","mp":"Kate Dearden MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Hinckley and Bosworth","ons_code":"E14001288","mp":"Dr Luke Evans MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Huddersfield","ons_code":"E14001297","mp":"Harpreet Uppal MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Luton South and South Bedfordshire","ons_code":"E14001346","mp":"Rachel Hopkins MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Portsmouth South","ons_code":"E14001432","mp":"Stephen Morgan MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"South West Hertfordshire","ons_code":"E14001496","mp":"Mr Gagan Mohindra MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Taunton and Wellington","ons_code":"E14001540","mp":"Gideon Amos MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"West Bromwich","ons_code":"E14001574","mp":"Sarah Coombes MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"West Suffolk","ons_code":"E14001578","mp":"Nick Timothy MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Wycombe","ons_code":"E14001600","mp":"Rt Hon Emma Reynolds MP","signature_count":1}],"signatures_by_region":[{"name":"North West","ons_code":"B","signature_count":1},{"name":"Yorkshire and The Humber","ons_code":"D","signature_count":7},{"name":"East Midlands","ons_code":"E","signature_count":2},{"name":"West Midlands","ons_code":"F","signature_count":1},{"name":"East of England","ons_code":"G","signature_count":3},{"name":"London","ons_code":"H","signature_count":1},{"name":"South East","ons_code":"J","signature_count":3},{"name":"South West","ons_code":"K","signature_count":2}],"other_parliamentary_business":[]}}}