A MOTHER-OF-TWO from Otley has spoken of her concerns over plans to scrap fee school meals for infants.

The Conservative Party has announced proposals to remove universal free school lunches for children in their first three years of education.

Currently all children in that age bracket receive a hot, lunchtime meal - but the Tories say scrapping that will save £650 million to be invested back into education.

The party also says it will replace the lunches with free school breakfasts for every pupil throughout primary school - and points to research suggesting that is a more cost-effective way of helping children learn.

Otley mum Nancy Atkinson, however, whose twins will start primary school in September, is far from convinced.

She said: "It’s a big step when your children start school, it’s an exciting time for them but I worry about the future when I see so many news stories about schools struggling with shrinking budgets.

"Now the Conservatives plan to scrap free school lunches for infants.

"Replacing a hot lunch with the offer of a free breakfast - toast or cereal - surely isn’t fair, it’s a backdoor way of saving money."

Labour's Parliamentary candidate for Leeds North West, Alex Sobel, agrees.

He said: "Labour has pledged to provide free hot lunches for all primary school children up to 11.

"So no child will be prevented from learning through hunger."

Mr Sobel also claims that under the Conservatives' planned new funding formula schools are set to lose £3 billion a year, in real terms, by 2020.

He said: "It’s been estimated that Rufford Park Primary in Yeadon would lose nearly £150,000, or £560 per pupil, and All Saints C of E Primary School in Otley could lose £92,000, or £430 per pupil.

"That’s equivalent to losing three or four teachers in each school - class sizes would go up under the Tories."

He is also urging local parents to check the School Cuts website, at schoolcuts.org.uk , to see how the proposed funding formula would affect their child's school.

He added: "After years of coalition and Tory cuts our schools are at breaking point.

"Parents have a right to know how their children’s education will suffer if we don’t have a change of government.

Labour has also pledged to reverse cuts and limit class sizes to 30 for five, six and seven year olds should it form the next Government.

Those moves would be funded by making private schools pay VAT and raising corporation tax.