The UK government has announced a significant expansion of the free school meals scheme, set to take effect from September 2026. Currently, all children in England receive free school meals up to the end of Year 2, with eligibility beyond that stage limited to families on certain benefits. The new plan will broaden this support to include all children living in households claiming Universal Credit, regardless of income level.
At present, children qualify for free school meals if their family’s household income, after benefits, is below £7,400 annually. However, the upcoming changes will remove this income threshold for families on Universal Credit, ensuring a free hot meal for more children. This move is expected to impact at least half a million young people across England.
The announcement follows growing calls to address child poverty and improve living standards for vulnerable families. In addition to extending free meals, the government aims to simplify school uniform policies to help parents avoid the high costs of branded clothing.
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Officials estimate these measures will help lift 100,000 children out of poverty and save affected families around £500 per year. Experts stress the importance of this support, highlighting the serious consequences of hunger on children’s behavior, focus, health, and school attendance.
A recent study by School Food Matters revealed that 38% of teachers observe pupils regularly coming to school hungry, and 24% of headteachers reported running foodbanks at their schools. Addressing this, Nick Harrison, chief executive of the social mobility charity the Sutton Trust, called the expansion “a major stride towards taking hunger out of the classroom.” He added, “Hungry children can’t learn effectively, so this initiative not only helps reduce child poverty but is also likely to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged students.”
Kate Anstey, head of education policy at the Child Poverty Action Group, welcomed the news as “a game-changer for children and families.” She said, “More children will now get the nourishment they need to thrive, and millions of families struggling financially will gain much-needed relief.”
The need for expanded support remains pressing: as of early 2025, nearly one in four children (24.6%) in England qualified for free school meals—a figure that has steadily increased since the Covid-19 pandemic strained household budgets.
This expansion represents a vital step forward in ensuring that no child attends school hungry and that all children have the opportunity to succeed.