National Food Strategy calls for major extension to free school meals criteria
Joe Lepper
Thursday, July 15, 2021
The current family income threshold for eligibility for free school meals (FSMs) is “too low” and should be almost trebled, according to an independent review into food policy.
The recommendation has been made by the National Food Strategy review as part of a raft of measures to extend the reach of FSMs to ensure the scheme reaches an extra 1.1m children in low-income families.
FSM household earnings threshold should be increased substantially from the current rate of £7,400 to £20,000, says the review.
It warns that the current income threshold “is so low that it excludes many families that are food insecure” adding that nearly half of families blighted by food insecurity do not qualify for FSMs due to the current threshold.
Children who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF), including asylum seekers, should also be eligible.
The review says there are almost 400,000 such children in the UK. It warns that more than half of NRPF families have been unable to give their child a hot meal all day because they could not afford it.
In addition, eligible children should be enrolled automatically, says the review. According to government estimates, more than one in ten (11 per cent) of children entitled to FSMs do not receive them under the current opt in system.
The changes would cost £555m a year and the review urges the Department for Education to bid for this funding as part of the government’s autumn Spending Review.
A total of 2.8m disadvantaged children would be eligible if the proposals were enacted, meaning more than three quarters (76 per cent) of families living in food insecurity would benefit.
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Increasing the scope of FSMs would boost education attainment, the review suggests. It cites the results of a universal free school meals pilot in 2009 to 2011, where primary school pupils involved made between four to eight weeks’ more progress than expected in their schooling.
In addition, FSMs are a popular policy with the public, says the review. It’s report cites a poll amid the health crisis that found the majority (89 per cent) of respondents think every child has a right to a healthy meal at least once a day.
Children’s Society policy, research and public affairs team leader Richard Crellin backs the review’s focus on extending FSMs, especially to NRPF families.
“We know that free school meals act as a lifeline for struggling families, many of whom may be experiencing increased financial pressures due to Covid,” he said.
“We really welcome that free school meals would also continue to be extended to all those children from households with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) and this permanent extension is something we have called for during the pandemic.
“Children in families with NRPF are at greater risk of financial hardship and destitution and we urge the government to adopt this recommendation so that no child goes hungry because of their parents’ immigration status.”
In April, MPs called on the government to ensure that families eligible for FSMs are able to feed their children” in the event of another national lockdown.
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee was critical of the “unacceptable” quality of food parcels distributed to children when schools closed down.
