
Jeremy Corbyn said his party would introduce a VAT charge on private school fees to pay for the policy, which it hopes will raise £1.5bn a year.
Currently all children in reception class and years 1 and 2 receive free school meals in England, as well as those whose parents receive certain benefits.
Research released by the party suggests extending funding for free school meals to all primary school children would cost between £700m and £900m.
Labour's shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said cuts to school budgets introduced by the current government were impacting schools' ability to feed children, which was affecting pupils' health and attainment.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here