Government to expand free schools meals initiative to 500,000 more children
The Labour Government says this will put £500 back into parents’ pockets every year by expanding eligibility for free school meals. It also says the ‘unprecedented expansion’ will lift 100,000 children across England completely out of poverty.
Research has shown giving children access to a nutritious meal during the school day leads to higher attainment, improved behaviour and better outcomes – meaning they get the best possible education and chance to succeed in work and life.
To ensure quality and nutrition in meals for the future, the Government is also acting with experts across the sector to revise the School Food Standards.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “Working parents across the country are working tirelessly to provide for their families but are being held back by cost-of-living pressures.
“My Government is taking action to ease those pressures. Feeding more children every day, for free, is one of the biggest interventions we can make to put more money in parents’ pockets, tackle the stain of poverty, and set children up to learn.
“This expansion is a truly historic moment for our country, helping families who need it most and delivering our Plan for Change to give every child, no matter their background, the same chance to succeed.”
Since 2018, children have only been eligible for free school meals if their household income is less than £7,400 per year, meaning hundreds of thousands of children living in poverty have been unable to access free school meals.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson added: “It is the moral mission of this Government to tackle the stain of child poverty, and today this Government takes a giant step towards ending it with targeted support that puts money back in parents’ pockets.
“From free school meals to free breakfast clubs, breaking the cycle of child poverty is at the heart of our Plan for Change to cut the unfair link between background and success. We believe that background shouldn’t mean destiny. Today’s historic step will help us to deliver excellence everywhere, for every child and give more young people the chance to get on in life.”
The Government is also offering more than £13 million in funding to 12 food charities across England to redistribute thousands of tonnes of fresh produce directly from farms to fight food poverty in communities.
School food funding and provision will be key topics at the 2025 LACA Main Event, which is taking place from 8-9th July at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole.