Plan to extend free school meals auto-enrolment
BBCThe automatic enrolment of children for free school meals, to ensure pupils do not miss out, could be made permanent.
A pilot project saw hundreds of children in Middlesbrough receive meals since the programme was introduced at the start of the school year.
The council's executive will be asked to vote to approve rolling out the initiative on a longer term basis.
Since September, 546 children who were eligible for free school meals but not receiving them have been identified, Middlesbrough Council said.
Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke said: "This move has been a massive success so far, and I'm delighted we've been able to help so many families in such a short space of time.
"The data was already available, it's such a simple change but it's been so effective."
Funding 'unlocked'
Automatic enrolment could save families an average of £400 per year, the council said.
It has also unlocked about £765,000 in government funding for schools in Middlesbrough in this academic year alone.
Pupil Premium funding is used to improve outcomes for disadvantaged students and is allocated to schools based on how many children are receiving free school meals.
Primary schools are granted £1,480 per child with secondaries receiving £1,050.
All schools in the town agreed to take part in the pilot, but they will have the opportunity to decide if they want to continue if the initiative is made permanent.
Families will also have the choice of opting out of the scheme.