Cost of living: unions call for free school meal expansion

In response to the rising cost of living, unions and other education sector organisations have called for free school meals to be extended to all families in receipt of universal credit. In a joint letter, sent to chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak and education secretary Nadhim Zahawi, the organisations said: ‘We see the devastating reality of children coming to school unable to afford to buy lunch, because their family circumstances means they fall outside the restrictive free school meal eligibility criteria’. Signatories to the letter include the NEU, NASUWT, ASCL and NAHT unions, as well as Teach First and the Confederation of School Trusts.

Currently around one fifth of pupils, approximately 1.7million children, receive free school meals. All pupils up to Year Two can receive free school meals during term time. For those in Year Three and above, those living in households on income-related benefits (such as universal credit) are eligible provided their annual household income does not exceed £7,400 after tax, although that figure does not include welfare payments. According to data from the charity Food Foundation, an estimated 2.6 million children in the UK live in households that missed meals or struggled to access healthy food during April 2022.

A government spokesperson said: ‘We recognise that millions of households across the UK are struggling to make their incomes stretch to cover the rising cost of living, which is why, in addition to the over £22bn announced previously, we are providing over £15bn in further support, targeted particularly at those with the greatest need. The holiday activities and food programme runs during major school holidays, and wider welfare support is available through the household support fund, which helps vulnerable families in need with essentials, such as food and utility bills.’