The UK Government announced a significant expansion of free school meal eligibility for children in England, stating it's the biggest in a generation. The new policy extends entitlement to all children whose families receive Universal Credit. This aims to tackle child poverty, expected to lift 100,000 children out of poverty and save eligible families up to £495 annually. The expansion is presented as both pro-learning and anti-poverty, with expected benefits for children's attendance, behaviour, and academic attainment. This is described as a down payment on a wider child poverty strategy due later this year.

Key Takeaways:

• Expanded Eligibility: Free school meals will be extended to all children in households receiving Universal Credit.
• Financial Relief: Eligible families could save up to £495 per child each year.
• Poverty Reduction: The measure is expected to lift 100,000 children out of poverty.
• Educational Benefits: Access to healthy meals is linked to improved attendance, focus, behaviour, and grades.
• Part of a Larger Plan: This is described as a key step within a broader child poverty strategy.
• Criticisms: Concerns were raised about the funding source, potential impact on school budgets (specifically the link to Pupil Premium), and the ending of transitional protections in 2026.

Important Definitions and Concepts:

• Free School Meals (FSM): Government-funded meals provided to eligible children at school.
• Universal Credit: A UK welfare benefit for people on a low income or out of work.
• Pupil Premium: Additional funding for schools in England to support disadvantaged pupils, historically linked to FSM eligibility.

Discussion and Reflection Question:

Considering the announced expansion of free school meal eligibility and the concerns raised about funding and transitional protections, what are the potential long-term impacts of this policy on schools and families?

Source: Free School Meals
Volume 768: debated on Thursday 5 June 2025

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Contains Parliamentary information repurposed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.