The UK government has extended free school meals in England to all pupils whose parents claim universal credit, a move welcomed as a step against child poverty. However, critics argue this policy is insufficient to tackle deeper issues like inadequate funding for food quality, and that broader measures like raising family incomes and removing the two-child benefit cap are needed to truly address child poverty.
The Guardian view on child poverty: free school meals are a help, but not a panacea
School mealsSchoolsSocietyPovertyRachel ReevesBenefitsMarcus RashfordBridget PhillipsonPoliticsSocial exclusionUK
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️The UK government has extended free school meals in England to all pupils whose parents claim universal credit, a move welcomed as a step against child poverty. However, critics argue this policy is insufficient to tackle deeper issues like inadequate funding for food quality, and that broader measures like raising family incomes and removing the two-child benefit cap are needed to truly address child poverty.
Trending- 1 1946: Ellen Wilkinson announced the introduction of free school dinners, free school milk, and child benefit.
- 2 Last week (prior to June 8, 2025): Announcement of the extension of free school meals in England.
- 3 This week (of June 8, 2025): Government prepares for the spending review.
- Improved lives for pupils and better learning conditions due to hot lunches.
- Potential lifting of 100,000 children out of poverty (disputed and expected only long-term).
- Continued debate on the adequacy of the policy and the need for broader child poverty solutions.
- Criticism regarding food quality and insufficient funding increases for school meals.
- Highlighting of widespread hunger in schools and the public's support for school food campaigns.
What: The UK government announced an extension of free school meals in England to all pupils whose parents or carers claim universal credit. This policy is being debated regarding its effectiveness in tackling child poverty and the need for broader policy changes.
When: The extension was announced last week (prior to June 8, 2025). The original free school meals policy was introduced in 1946. A spending review is scheduled for this week.
Where: England, Scotland, Northern Ireland (for comparison), and the wider UK.
Why: The policy aims to combat child poverty and hunger in schools, and is hoped to be popular ahead of a spending review. However, deeper underlying problems such as poor nutrition and inadequate finances persist, indicating the need for more comprehensive solutions.
How: The government is extending eligibility for free school meals and has announced a criticized 3p rise in the subsidy per meal. There are calls for auto-enrolment for eligible children and broader reforms to the benefits system.