The policy – introduced under the coalition government in 2014 – was among those in the Conservative General Election manifesto, launched last week.
Prime minister Theresa May wants to drop universal FSM for all Reception and year 1 and 2 children and instead has promised to offer all primary school children a free breakfast. Children on FSM will continue to receive free lunches.
The proposal will save around £650 million a year, which the Conservatives say will go towards their manifesto pledge of a £4 billion boost to school funding over the next Parliament.
The manifesto states: “We have taken an important decision. We do not believe that giving school lunches to all children free of charge for the first three years of primary school – regardless of the income of their parents – is a sensible use of public money. There is now good evidence that school breakfasts are at least as effective in helping children to make progress in school.”
The manifesto adds: “We will increase the overall schools budget by £4 billion by 2022, representing more than a real-terms increase for every year of the Parliament. We will continue to protect the Pupil Premium to support those who need it.”
However, in a letter to the Sunday Times, Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent, the co-authors of the School Food Plan, have urged Ms May to reverse the decision.
The letter, which is also signed by chef Jamie Oliver and restauranteur Yotam Ottolenghi, states: “We are shocked and disappointed by the Conservatives’ manifesto plan to scrap Universal Infant Free School Meals. This policy was introduced and championed by the coalition government, with cross-party backing, less than four years ago, and has had a great impact: more than 85 per cent of children in their first three years of primary school are now eating a healthy school lunch, compared to less than 45 per cent in 2013.
“Opening more breakfast clubs is a great idea – and one we argued for in the School Food Plan – but it makes no sense to rob Peter to pay Paul. It’s madness to scrap a policy with so much positive potential so early in its implementation.”
The Liberal Democrats were the driving force behind the universal FSM policy and in their 2017 manifesto have said they would extend free meals to all primary children. Labour has included a similar pledge in its 2017 manifesto.