School leaders, children's charities, health and food organisations and academics welcome the biggest expansion of free school meal eligibility in more than a decade, with all children in households receiving Universal Credit in England becoming eligible for free school meals from 1 September.
The change is the biggest expansion of free school meal eligibility in more than a decade, since Universal Infant Free School Meals were introduced in 2014. It will give hundreds of thousands more children access to a nutritious meal during the school day, while saving families around £500 per child each year.
In a statement coordinated by the School Food Review, over 100 organisations have welcomed the change. Signatories include school leaders' and teaching bodies ASCL, NAHT and the NEU; children’s, food and anti-poverty organisations, including School Food Matters, Child Poverty Action Group, Sustain, Bite Back, Chefs in Schools, The Food Foundation and The Children’s Society; plus a wide range of health, community support and academic institutions.
The statement says: “Today many thousands more children across England will be fuelled for learning thanks to a free school meal. As organisations working in schools and with children, we know this is a huge boost for children and families.”
“We commend the government on this substantive change that will be felt in classrooms and households across England, igniting children's learning and giving parents welcome breathing space, saving them around £500 per year.”
“Today marks an important commitment to children. Government must continue to build on this by doing more to create a great school food system and taking steps to tackle child poverty.”
Stephanie Slater MBE, Founder and Chief Executive of School Food Matters, says: "This is an important moment for children and families across England. Free school meals can take pressure off household budgets and ensure children are well nourished and ready to learn. We now eagerly await the publication of the new school food standards and a framework for monitoring so that every school meal is delicious and nutritious.”
Paul Whiteman, General Secretary at school leaders' union NAHT, says: "The expansion of free school meals is a hugely welcome step as children return to the classroom this term. School leaders see first-hand the impact hunger can have on children's wellbeing, concentration and ability to learn. Extending eligibility to more families will make a real difference, helping to ensure thousands more children are properly fuelled for learning while providing support for more households facing ongoing cost pressures."
To further celebrate the expansion of school meals, the School Food Review also invited young people, parents, teachers and chefs to share what school meals mean for them personally in a new short film: Why Free School Meals Matter.
Kwasi, 16, a Bite Back member, says in the film: “I feel like when you have a healthy meal in front of you, it just gives you that confidence that you can get through the day.”
New research from Child Poverty Action Group also reveals how families newly eligible for free school meals anticipate what the policy change will mean for them. Sixty per cent of parents polled said their new eligibility for free school meals would help their children’s health, while the same proportion said it would help with household debts. Seventy per cent said having to pay for packed lunch or school meals in the previous academic year had meant worrying that they could not afford other things for children like school trips or clubs.
Dan, parent of one child and a Food Foundation ambassador, says in the film: “Free hot school meals give children the nutrition they need and ensure families on Universal Credit aren’t forced to choose between food and other essentials.”
