One million children missing out on free school meals, research shows

The research from Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and Covid Realities shows that 36 per cent of all school-aged children living in poverty in the UK are not entitled to a free meal at school. 

The analysis shows that despite a rise in the number of children claiming free school meals between March 2020 and March 2021, restrictive eligibility criteria still prevents many in poverty from accessing any form of free school meal provision. 

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The proportion of children not receiving free meals varies across all four nations of the UK.

Wales and England have the highest rates of children missing out with figures standing at 42 and 37 per cent respectively.

In Northern Ireland 22 per cent of children in poverty are not receiving them, while in Scotland 17 per cent of children living in poverty are missing out, the research shows.

Researchers are calling for means-tested free school meals to be extended to all families on Universal Credit or equal benefits at a cost of around £700m per year.

Currently, households on Universal Credit in England and Wales must earn less than £7,400 a year to be eligible for free meals, regardless of the number of children in the family. In Scotland, the income limit is £7,320, while in Northern Ireland, the threshold is higher at £14,000. 

The £20 per week Universal Credit uplift, brought in during the Covid-19 pandemic, should be extended permanently, the report states.

It also recommends a move towards universal free school meals for all children in the UK, stating the “numerous benefits of this approach, including increased take-up and reduced stigma”. CPAG estimates this would cost £1.75bn, according to the report. 

“As a smaller step towards that, authors recommend following the Scottish government’s lead by extending universal free school meals to all primary school pupils in the rest of the UK. CPAG estimates this would cost £770 million per year,” it states.

Kate Anstey, 'cost of the school day' lead at CPAG, said: “It should be an outrage that so many children in poverty aren’t allowed a free school meal. 

“We know what a huge difference these meals can make to struggling families who are at their wits’ end. It’s high time we gave them one less thing to worry about – that’s why we’re calling for urgent changes to the rules so all families on a low income can get this daily support.”

Meanwhile, MPs have shared concern over reports that school canteens could be hit by food shortages due to a dearth of HGV drivers after Brexit. 

The Grocer reports that The Federation of Wholesale Distributors said its members had encouraged schools to “stock up” on food ahead of the new term. 

Shadow schools minister and Labour MP for Hove and Portslade Peter Kyle wrote on Twitter: “This pathetic excuse for a government can’t even get food into school canteens”.