News

York Community Fund’s York Hungry Minds Appeal was set up in a bid to address disadvantage and the impact of the cost of living crisis. Evidence suggests that providing children with healthy and nourishing food can make a ‘significant difference’ to school attendance, concentration and learning.  

Westfield Primary Community School pupils were the first school to benefit from the free school meals in January 2024 with Burton Green Primary School pupils receiving free breakfasts later that month. Fishergate Primary School joined the pilot free school meals scheme in March 2025.

Councillor Bob Webb, the council’s Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “There is a wealth of national evidence supporting the positive impact of universal free school meals and it is so heartening to hear about the impact the pilots are having for school pupils in York.

“Universal free school meals are about so much more than food, as the breakfast offer at Burton Green Primary School is showing. Ensuring that children are well fed with healthy, nutritious food, helps children to attend school regularly and concentrate fully in their lessons, which will support their learning and success in school as they grow up.”

Around 50 children now attend the free breakfast sessions at Burton Green every day, with school staff reporting a significant improvement in pupils’ attendance and punctuality as a result of the breakfast offer.

Ash McGann, principal at the school, added: “There is a family atmosphere [at the breakfast club] where older children play games with younger children. Children are more focussed and motivated as they have eaten a nutritious meal and also had time with their friends before the structure of lessons.”