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Thousands more children will get free school meals thanks to a rule change. About 1,300 extra children in Devon are now getting free school meals after a change in policy.

Devon County Council and Torbay Council have changed the rules so families who are entitled to free school meals automatically get them without having to apply.

Devon County Council said it was the first county council in the country to introduce auto-enrolment for pupils whose family income made them entitled. The council said there were now about 21,065 pupils receiving free school meals, with an increase of about 1,065 due to auto-enrolment.

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The leader of Devon County Council, Liberal Democrat Julian B

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