Co-authors of School Food Plan speak out against Tory free school meal policy

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.”