PLANS to only offer free school meals for the most deprived children could lead to bullying, parents fear.

The Tories plan to end free school meals for all children in Key Stage 1. Currently youngsters get free lunches for the first three years of school, before it becomes means tested.

Under the Conservative plans, free meals will be means tested right from the start of a child’s education.

The move will help fund the £4billion increase in school funding announced by Theresa May last week.

The party plan to offer all schoolchildren a free breakfast instead - but the plans are not popular with parents.

Many took to Facebook to complain.

Emma Weaver said: “I don’t understand the logic. It seems more important to provide a midday meal than one right at the beginning of the day when they will have just left home and already eaten breakfast. “Breakfast is much cheaper for a household than lunch.

Max Levy added: “I imagine getting schools to only supply meals to those who can’t afford it would actually create an expensive bureaucratic system that may actually cost more than just feeding all kids. Imagine the paperwork and workforce needed to process application for millions of free meals and assessing them all.

“Giving lunches to all pupils also prevents bullying of poor kids who can’t afford school meals.”

Liz Keeble, headteacher at Vange Primary School, in London Road, Vange, however, supports the changes.

She said: “I honestly think this is a very good idea. Universal free school meals have been a contentious topic among educationalists – there was no consultation process and there were start-up costs we had to pay for.

“It’s a good idea to repurpose that money to children for breakfast up to the age of 11 who don’t get one. Some children come to our school who haven’t even had breakfast.

“Just giving a hot dinner to someone is not going to lead to academic achievements.”