A recent poll indicates that the vast majority of parents with primary-school-aged children in England, totaling 89%, are in favor of expanding free school meals to all primary school students. The survey also revealed that 57% believe providing hot free lunches would positively impact their family finances. The support for free school meals remains strong, especially as around 31% of parents reported cutting back on the quantity and quality of their food shopping since the school year began in September.
Within this group, 64% have reduced their consumption of red meat, while 27% have decreased purchases of cheese, eggs, or dairy products, and a similar proportion have limited fresh vegetable purchases. The Mirror, in collaboration with the National Education Union (NEU) and YouGov, has been advocating for free school meals for all primary students.
A significant development in this campaign is the extension of free hot lunches to all children in families receiving universal credit, benefiting over half a million children starting in September. However, the NEU cautions that means-testing may still leave some children and families behind. Among parents not on universal credit, 56% believe that free school meals for all would positively impact their family finances, with 44% recognizing its potential benefit for mental wellbeing.
For parents not receiving universal credit, 28% are reducing the variety of their weekly food shopping, and 27% are cutting back on the quantity. Additionally, 16% of these parents are compelled to reduce or cease out-of-school activities. Notably, Wales and London have already extended free school meals to all primary school children.
The government is currently implementing free breakfast clubs for all primary school children and introducing new school lunch standards aimed at eliminating deep-fried and high-sugar foods from menus. Despite these efforts, unions and school leaders continue to advocate for a free midday meal to support children’s learning, wellbeing, and family finances.
Daniel Kebede, NEU’s general secretary, emphasized the ongoing challenges families face in providing food and stressed the importance of expanding free school meals to ensure no child is left behind. Frank Young, CEO of ParentKind, supports extending free school meals to all primary school children, highlighting the potential relief it could bring to parents.
The Department for Education reaffirmed its commitment to reducing costs for families by offering 30 hours of funded childcare, free breakfast clubs, and free school meals for every child in households on universal credit. These initiatives are part of a broader effort outlined in the Child Poverty Strategy to lift a record number of children out of poverty by the end of parliament.
