A single mum-of-two has started a petition to ensure that every child receives a meal at school regardless of their lunch account balance.

It comes after the Daily Mail reported pupils at a school in Wales won’t be fed if their meal accounts are more than a penny in debt.

Gerogina Carapiet, of Bushey, felt passionately that every child deserves a meal at school and has started a petition to Gavin Williamson MP, Secretary of State for Education.

The 37-year-old started the petition on Friday and is hoping to reach more than 100 signatures to ensure “no child goes hungry”.

She highlighted research from medical experts that claims children need a good meal to focus and thrive in their day.

The mother of two said: “Refusing a child food on the grounds of insufficient credit is robbing them of the opportunity and right to focus and thrive.

“If a parent does not provide the child with meals during the day they are deemed to be neglecting that child and causing abuse to that child- by refusing a child food the school is doing the same.

“Sadly in many cases a meal at school is sometimes the only meal a child will have in that day.”

Ms Carapiet is hoping that schools will provide protection to ensure no child is refused of a meal.

Governors of the school which said it would refuse meals to pupils in debt have announced they will review its payment system after a backlash on Friday, November 12.