Extending the Eligibility of Free School Meals

Families on low incomes are defined as those that receive working tax credits but have a household income of less than £16,190 a year. Primary school children from low income families form the initial focus of the £85m scheme, as early intervention should achieve the greatest impact on encouraging healthy eating habits. Once the scheme is fully rolled out, it is estimated that an additional 600,000 children will be eligible for FSM.

The extension of eligibility aims to improve incentives for low income families to seek employment, and is underpinned by the government's targets of eliminating child poverty. It is estimated that the scheme will lift around 50,000 children out of relative poverty. Changes to legislation that formed part of the Child Poverty Act 2010 were necessary to implement the FSM scheme. The government will seek to amend regulations next year so that eligibility is extended to Key Stage 2 pupils from September 2011.