This is for England: but in Wales (and London) all primary school children can access free meals.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson told the BBC ministers were "working as quickly as we can" on next year's plans to extend free school meals”.
She said the changes to free school meals would save parents £500 a year and "lift 100,000 children out of poverty".
"We know if children are arriving at school ready to learn that makes a massive difference to their outcomes", she said. "If you're hungry, it's really hard to concentrate."
The Department for Education has set aside £1bn to fund the change up to 2029.”.
“The government has also pledged £13m to a dozen food charities across England to "fight food poverty" and said there will be a review of standards so that school meals are healthy”
(All eyes of course on announcements as regards the two child benefit cap)
The criteria? “That can include receiving Universal Credit but, until the changes are implemented next September, parents also must have a household income of less than £7,400 a year, after tax.”
There have been difficulties with parents enrolling children, and automatic enrolment is under discussion.
“Kate Anstey, head of education policy at the Child Poverty Action Group, said the extension would cover "all children in poverty and those at risk of poverty", with the current criteria only accounting for around two-thirds of those children.
The increase in free school meals and direction and the pledge £13m to a dozen food charities - more small steps win the right direction. I wish more could be done but there are so many competing needs in so many sectors.
Maremia
Stiff, this would be targetted at the children.
Exactly! This is one way of addressing the arguments people have about giving parents child benefits which they spend on themselves. The benefit goes directly to the children.
Stiff, this would be targetted at the children.
There has to be a limit or they'd just end up buying stuff and throwing it away. I don't have a problem with a daily limit.
Whitewavemark2
growstuff
Yes, they were limited Maizie, but the allowance was enough for them to buy a two course meal. If they had gone over budget, they would have been short on other days.
Given the reason that they are having free meals in the first place that seems a bit daft. Surely the children amongst whom we would undoubtedly find signs of malnutrition, should be allowed food until they are satiated?
Free milk seems a good idea too!!!
I'm more familiar with secondary school meals - partly because I used to eat them myself. The "set meal" was usually nutritious and generous enough to fill up a teenager.
Oh dear, I hated milk as a child even tho I knew it was Good For Me. But a great solution benefitting all.
...and after the free meals have been handed out the teachers and assistants can toilet train the children before thinking about about educating them for an hour or two before their hard-working parents pick them up.
As long as their parents aren't spending their benefits on smoking and drinking. I know very well of one family who is on full benefits, spends 420 a month on cigarettes. Drinks a good few bottles of wine a week and boasts how she has an abundance of food vouchers. I'm all for giving to the genuinely needy but not to people who just take the **. I don't smoke but wouldn't be able to afford 420 a month even if I did.
Free milk could be part of the free breakfast. It could possibly help the farmers' income.
growstuff
Yes, they were limited Maizie, but the allowance was enough for them to buy a two course meal. If they had gone over budget, they would have been short on other days.
Given the reason that they are having free meals in the first place that seems a bit daft. Surely the children amongst whom we would undoubtedly find signs of malnutrition, should be allowed food until they are satiated?
Free milk seems a good idea too!!!
A good thing and I wish they would do it here. No one gets meals ,they all have to bring stuff to school though they do have shops to buy them. One of the best things your government has done so far.
I'm in the free for all Children camp, until they go to Senior school.
I would happily pay extra tax for that.
Senior School meals now that's completely different, I remember my Teenagers coming home frequently with Lunch box in tact.
Yes, they were limited Maizie, but the allowance was enough for them to buy a two course meal. If they had gone over budget, they would have been short on other days.
My experience is that paying for school meals is handled mores sensitively now. Most children have an account. Parents can load money on to the account and free school meal children have the money loaded automatically. Children can then pay with a card or finger-print scanning. Nobody knows where the money has come from.
We had that system in the school I worked in. But, IIRC, the FSM children were limited to a certain amount of money for each meal. This may have changed now, it's 12 years since I retired.
Not commenting families but commuting families!!!
Chocolatelovinggran
Trisha, let me assure you that no one knows who has paid and who is "free" in schools today.
With breakfast clubs in place, there is also a store of food which can be discreetly used to feed a child who has come to school hungry.
Children learn best with food in their stomach.
I asked my DiL about it as they have 2 children currently in primary school. It's handled so children aren't aware unless they say anything.
The school has a mix of kids some vv low income - an ex mining area - but also some commenting families due to where it is
and they also do a brilliant (run by some parents) recycle school uniform scheme's) where you go and pay what you can.
Chocolatelovinggran
Trisha, let me assure you that no one knows who has paid and who is "free" in schools today.
With breakfast clubs in place, there is also a store of food which can be discreetly used to feed a child who has come to school hungry.
Children learn best with food in their stomach.
This💯
Trisha, let me assure you that no one knows who has paid and who is "free" in schools today.
With breakfast clubs in place, there is also a store of food which can be discreetly used to feed a child who has come to school hungry.
Children learn best with food in their stomach.
I would like to know how much extra would need to be paid in tax per tax payer for free school meals for all children of school age. I would happily pay a reasonable amount as long as it were ring fenced for good quality well balanced school meals. Tax paying parents would therefore contribute and higher rate tax payers at a higher rate.
It is shocking that there are malnourished children in 2025. Free meals for all would take away any embarrassment.
Trisha99
Free school meals for all, if not must be sympathetically managed by the schools. Memories of having to line up first for lunch because we got free school meals (1960s/70s).
From memory there were only a handful of us,it was embarrassing to be singled out like that.
My experience is that paying for school meals is handled mores sensitively now. Most children have an account. Parents can load money on to the account and free school meal children have the money loaded automatically. Children can then pay with a card or finger-print scanning. Nobody knows where the money has come from.
Free school meals for all, if not must be sympathetically managed by the schools. Memories of having to line up first for lunch because we got free school meals (1960s/70s).
From memory there were only a handful of us,it was embarrassing to be singled out like that.
That’s great but they need to ensure they are good quality and nutritious. Also while they’re at it they should encourage all children to learn about nutrition, budgeting and cooking. I know it’s covered to some extent but it needs to be prioritised.
Sorry yes I did have primary age in my head when I wrote that.
What Galaxy said. At least until 11.
Good, my belief is that school meals should be free for all. There were some interesting pilots I think when pupil premium was first introduced that showed universal free school meals was useful in improving attainment of disadvantaged children.
than you for the detail, Growstuff, I was summarising an article as best as I could and you've added necessary bits.
Registering is free, easy, and means you can join the discussion, watch threads and lots more.
Register now »Already registered? Log in with:
Gransnet »Get our top conversations, latest advice, fantastic competitions, and more, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
