Over half a million more children to get free school meals thanks to historic government action

Over half a million more children to get free school meals thanks to historic government action

• New entitlement to free school meals for all children in household on Universal Credit

• Delivers on Plan to break down barriers to opportunity by driving better behaviour, attainment and wellbeing in schools while putting nearly £500 in parents’ pockets
• Historic move will lift 100,000 children out of poverty and support parents in decisive action to improve lives ahead of Child Poverty Strategy
• Comes alongside more than £13 million to ensure food that might have been left in fields instead ends up on the plates of those who need it, including school children

From the start of the 2026 school year, every pupil whose household is on Universal Credit will have a new entitlement to free school meals. This will make life easier and more affordable for parents who struggle the most, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change to break down barriers to opportunity and give children the best start in life.  

The unprecedented expansion will lift 100,000 children across England completely out of poverty. Giving children a nutritious meal during the school day also leads to higher attainment, improved behaviour and better outcomes, meaning they get the best possible education and chance to succeed in work and life.

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.

The government’s historic new expansion to those on Universal Credit will change this and comes ahead of the Child Poverty Taskforce publishing its ten-year strategy to drive sustainable change later this year. It comes on top of targeted support for families being hit the hardest with the cost-of-living crisis, with urgent action including raising the national minimum wage, uprating benefits and supporting 700,000 families through the Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions.

This new entitlement will apply to children in all settings where free school meals are currently delivered, including schools, school-based nurseries and Further Education settings. It is expected that most schools will allow parents to apply before the start of the school year 2026, by providing their National Insurance Number to check their eligibility.

Welcoming the move, Amanda Hack said:

“I’m pleased that we have been able to build on the work to support our children here in North West Leicestershire. We have already seen the successful rollout of 2 free breakfast clubs in the constituency supporting our families and now we are going even further to lift more children out of poverty.

This is about more than just providing a meal; it’s about breaking down the barriers that hold too many children back. By ensuring every child has access to the healthy meals they need at school, we provide them with the best possible start in life, regardless of their background. It’s an important step toward a more equal society, where opportunity isn’t determined by circumstance, but by potential.”

 Prime Minister 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.”

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

“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.

The Tackling Food Surplus at the Farm Gate scheme is helping farms and organisations to work collaboratively to ensure edible food that might have been left in fields instead ends up on the plates of those who need it, including schoolchildren.

Kate Anstey, head of education policy at Child Poverty Action Group said: 

“This is fantastic news and a game-changer for children and families. At last more kids will get the food they need to learn and thrive and millions of parents struggling to make ends meet will get a bit of breathing space. We hope this is a sign of what’s to come in autumn’s child poverty strategy, with government taking more action to meet its manifesto commitment to reduce child poverty in the UK.” 

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