policy
Free school meal eligibility is expanding
From this term, free school meals now cover all children in households receiving Universal Credit, the previous earnings threshold has been removed. Chefs in Schools has campaigned for this change for over five years, alongside partner organisations across the sector.
Over 500,000 more children are now eligible for a free, hot school lunch. Over 100,000 children are expected to be lifted out of poverty as a result, according to government estimates. The change also eases cost-of-living pressure for families and gives more children a hot, nutritious meal at school.
More than half of newly eligible families may not know they qualify.
If you know a family on Universal Credit with school-age children, tell them to check with their child’s school and sign up. That one conversation could be the difference between a child eating lunch or missing out.
Updated school food standards are also on the way. We’ll share more on those soon, and what it means for children, families and schools themselves.
Receiving Universal Credit and have children? Check with your school and sign up.