Starting September 2026, any child in England whose parents receive Universal Credit can claim free school meals, regardless of income, targeting 500,000 more pupils. This measure, supported by an additional £1 billion funding until 2029, is set to alleviate poverty for many families and save parents around £500 annually. The change has received positive feedback from the education sector, while discussions continue on broader child welfare policies, including the controversial two-child benefit cap, as campaigns against child poverty intensify.
"Feeding more children every day, for free, is one of the biggest interventions we can make to put more money in parents' pockets, tackle the stain of poverty, and set children up to learn," said Sir Keir.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank said that while the rule change would cut child poverty to a degree and would be cheaper than making them universal, "other measures - such as lifting the two-child limit - would have a lower cost per child lifted out of poverty."
Nick Harrison, chief executive of the Sutton Trust charity, said it was a "significant step towards taking hunger out of the classroom."
The government says the change will make 500,000 more pupils eligible, which Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said would "help families who need it most."
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