Free school meals are a vital way of ensuring children in low-income households can access a hot and nutritious meal during the day, helping to support their learning, development, and educational attainment. They also assist low-income families by reducing the need to purchase food for school lunches.
In England, free school meals are currently restricted by an income threshold of £7,400. This is equivalent to approximately 11 hours a week at a minimum wage of £12.21, and the threshold has not increased since its introduction. To be eligible, parents on Universal Credit must earn below £7,400 per year. Earning even £1 over this amount removes the entitlement, as it is not gradually reduced. This can create a situation where families may be financially disadvantaged by earning slightly more, due to the additional cost of school lunches.
In June 2025, the UK Government announced changes to the provision of free school meals. From the 2026 school year, all families on Universal Credit will be eligible for free school meals, regardless of income.
The response to this change has been largely positive. Child Poverty Action Group described it as a ‘gamechanger’ for families, while the Sutton Trust referred to it as ‘a significant step towards taking hunger out of the classroom.’ Some feedback has focused on the need for automatic enrolment to ensure all eligible children receive free school meals. Approximately 10% of eligible children do not currently receive them, which affects both their nutrition and school funding, as pupil premium allocations depend on registration numbers. In a context of reduced school budgets, every contribution is important. The expansion is widely seen as a meaningful improvement.
However, concerns have been raised regarding the level of funding provided. In April 2025, the government approved a 3p increase in per meal funding to £2.61. School food organisation LACA described this as insufficient, citing impacts on portion sizes and ingredient quality, particularly protein sources. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Union of Headteachers, estimated the actual cost per meal to be around £3.16, suggesting that schools are subsidising the scheme from already stretched budgets.
Similar concerns have been expressed in the past. When a previous government introduced funded childcare, nurseries reported that funding was inadequate to support large-scale implementation, leading to limited availability and increased costs for other families. In 2017, a previous Prime Minister proposed free breakfast clubs for pupils, but the initiative was budgeted at just 7p per pupil and was ultimately not implemented.
It is commendable that governments seek to provide this support. There is broad agreement that such policies can make a tangible difference to families across the UK. The UK Government’s own analysis estimates that 150,000 children will be lifted out of poverty due to the expansion, although some have questioned the accuracy of this figure. The initiative is expected to be a key component of the Government’s child poverty strategy, due to report in Autumn 2025. For the expansion to achieve its intended impact, it must be adequately funded. When it comes to feeding children, effective implementation is essential.
⭐ Society Matters is proud to offer two full-day CPD-accredited courses on Universal Credit, one at an introductory level and another more advanced. More information is available via the links above, covering Universal Credit and the additional support it can provide, including access to free school meals.
