Roughly one in five children in Kent who are entitled to free school meals are buying lunches.

A Kent County Council report has revealed an estimated 21% of eligible primary school children are missing out on free lunches.

On top of that, around 22% of eligible 15-year-olds are not claiming pupil premium, which can cover cost of school uniforms, trips and tutoring.

Approximately 200,000 children aged four to 15 in England are forgoing their entitlements; 14% of those eligible.

The report drafted by the county councillors on the pupil premium select committee states: "It is argued that the introduction of Universal Credit and free school meals for all infants makes the consistent identification of all disadvantaged pupils more difficult."

Since 2014, all schoolchildren aged seven and below receive free meals regardless of their parents' income.

Parents on universal credit earning up to £7,500 per year have to apply to the local authority for their child to continue to get free school meals (FSM) past year two.

Asylum seeking children and those in care also do not have to pay for a hot lunch.

The report also revealed awareness of the funding available is also a key reason behind the under-registration.

It reads: "A survey found that 11% of the parents that were interviewed had not claimed meals because they did not know of their entitlement or how to apply.

"Low literacy levels or language barriers can also make it very difficult for parents to apply for FSM funding.

"It was suggested that support in the form of translated information was needed to help those with English as an Additional Language."

It added that disadvantaged children often go under the radar due to fear of stigma about their financial circumstances or their family background.

However the cross-party committee concluded that further research needs to be done to ensure more children have access to their benefits.

The eight councillors are set to discuss their report at the pupil premium select committee next Tuesday.