Overview

• From September 2026, any pupil in England with a household claiming Universal Credit will qualify for free school meals regardless of income.
• The expansion is expected to benefit over 500,000 additional children, lift around 100,000 out of poverty and save families nearly £500 per year.
• The government has earmarked £1bn to fund the scheme through 2029 and pledged extra support for food charities to redistribute surplus produce.
• Charities and education leaders have welcomed the change as a vital step to tackle child hunger and improve learning outcomes.
• Critics and experts say further reforms, such as automatic enrolment and lifting the two-child benefit cap, will be needed in the forthcoming strategy.