New analysis by the Labour party, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, reveals that 43 local authorities have not been provided with enough money by the Government to pay for the extension of Free School Meals from next term.
According to Labour, across 29 of these councils, there is a shortfall of at least £23 million in funding.
Kent has the biggest shortfall at more than £4 million, followed by Waltham Forest and Hampshire at around £3 million.
However, Labour says these figures could be even higher as 19 councils said they did not yet know whether Government funding would be sufficient.
The FOI also revealed that schools in some local authorities are having to fund the Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) out of their own budgets.
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