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Calls for universal free school meals grow louder as campaigners hit Parliament

School food Poverty Pupil wellbeing Government policy
Since September, one in five teachers say they have seen more children turning up to school too hungry to learn.
Growing need: A survey of 10,000 teachers found that 20% have seen an increase in children turning up to school too hungry to learn since September, while 25% admit using their own money to feed students - Adobe Stock

It comes as separate polling has revealed that one in five parents are forced to buy unhealthy food for their children at least once a week because healthy options are too expensive.

Two reports have been launched in Parliament this week as momentum continues to build in the campaign to convince government to extend the reach of free school meals in schools in England.

Survey findings featuring 2,239 parents and published by Barnardo’s in its Nourishing the Future report reveal that 12% say are buying unhealthy food once a week due to the unaffordabilty of healthier options; a further 7% are buying unhealthy food more than once a week.

The research defines unhealthy options as including fast food, sugary snacks and processed foods. Another 7% said they bought these options once a fortnight. Of the respondents, only 54% said they never had any trouble affording healthy options.

A second report – The Superpowers of School Food – has been published by the School Food Review, a coalition of 37 organisations (including Barnardo’s) which is leading a campaign to see FSMs extended by the government.

Polling published by School Food Matters – one of the coalition members – revealed that 20% of teachers say the number of children turning up to school too hungry to learn has increased since September.

The survey of around 10,000 teachers also found that 25% admit using their own money to feed students, while 67% would support the introduction of FSMs for all children.

Pressure to expand FSMs has been building notably this year with a wide range of organisations now calling for action.

Just last week, a report from the Education Policy Institute higlighted “significant differences” between the number of children living in poverty and those who are receiving FSMs. It called for an increase to the FSMs income threshold in England – which has been frozen at £7,400 for years.

This report, in turn, came days after MPs on the House of Commons Education Select Committee recommended that the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill should be amended to include automatic FSMs enrolment. And that had come after MPs in the House of Commons had tabled an amendment to the Bill also calling for auto-enrolment – MP Munira Wilson called the policy a “no-brainer”.

England compares very poorly to other home nations when it comes to FSMs access. In England, the threshold sees families needing to earn under £7,400 (after tax, excluding benefits) per-year to qualify. According to the School Food Review coalition, this leaves an estimated one million children who are living in poverty but do not get FSMs. In bald statistics alone, official figures show that 1.2 million students get FSMs in England while 4.3 million children and young people are living in poverty.

England’s threshold is less than half that in Northern Ireland, where it stands at £15,000 (after tax, excluding benefits). Children in London and Wales, as well as some age groups in Scotland, meanwhile, are entitled to universal FSMs in primary education. In England universal FSMs are available up until year 2.

The School Food Review’s report sets out a range of evidence showing the benefits of expanding FSMs, including improved health, wellbeing, attendance, academic outcomes, and wider social benefits – not least the impact on family finances and the economy as a whole.

The Parliamentary launch, which took place on Wednesday (March 12), aimed to put this evidence in front of MPs as they continue to debate the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

In making the case for auto-enrolment, the School Food Review report estimates that 11% of eligible children are missing out on FSMs. The report also includes evidence showing overwhelming support for universal FSMs from both parents and teachers.

As well as auto-enrolment, the Barnardo’s report calls for the expansion of FSMs to all primary school pupils; the School Food Review report goes further and demands universal FSM in all schools. Both reports call for an immediate first step of giving all families on universal credit FSMs access.

In her introduction to the School Food Review report, 16-year-old Rusha Mahmood from Halifax, one of the campaign’s food ambassdors, said: “I remember sitting next to a friend who quietly confessed she hadn’t eaten since lunch the day before. She was bright, full of potential, and desperate to succeed – but hunger was an invisible weight she carried every day.

“The evidence is overwhelming: investing in FSMs leads to better educational outcomes, improved health, and long-term economic benefits. Expanding FSMs is one of the most powerful investments we can make for our future.

“We call on policy-makers to act now and expand FSM to all children from households receiving universal credit as a first step towards rolling out FSM to all children in state-funded schools.”