Overview

• All children in England living in households claiming Universal Credit will qualify for free school meals from September 2026, regardless of earnings.
• The Department for Education says the change will add 500,000 pupils to the scheme and save families nearly £500 per child each year.
• Ministers estimate the policy will lift 100,000 children out of poverty and support other measures such as free breakfast clubs and a school uniform cost cap.
• Research by the Education Policy Institute highlights inconsistent registration practices across local authorities and calls for a national auto-enrolment system to close access gaps.
• An upgraded eligibility checking tool is set to launch next year to help parents confirm their entitlement more easily.