After years of pressure from campaigners and education unions, the government has finally acted to expand free school meals (FSMs) to all families receiving Universal Credit.
In the long-term, the move, which was announced on Wednesday night (June 4) and which will come into effect in September 2026, will benefit 1.7 million children in years 3 to 11, according to the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS).
However, due to transitional protections to FSMs put in place during the roll-out of Universal Credit (explained below), the number of children who will directly benefit in September 2026 is around 500,000.
In making its announcement, the government said that the policy would put nearly £500 a year back in parents’ pockets and “lift 100,000 children out of poverty” – but again this is in the long-term.
Register now, read forever
Thank you for visiting Headteacher Update and reading some of our content for professionals in primary education. Register now for free to get unlimited access to all content.
What's included:
-
Unlimited access to news, best practice articles and podcasts
-
New content and e-bulletins delivered straight to your inbox every Monday
Already have an account? Sign in here