Me and my partner both work, I work days and he works nights so we can support our family. The cost of living is so high for us at the minute and we aren’t entitled to benefits. We still have our mortgage and bills to pay on top of food. I think that all children should receive school meals so that it is fair to all. Us working parents are struggling.

The change our schools, pupils and working families really need is Free School Meals for All. Means-testing will always leave children and families behind. With Free School Meals for All, we could end the scandal of child hunger in schools, and remove the stigma and shame that divides pupils in the dinner hall and leaves its mark on young people for decades to come. We’ve seen the impact in London, where Free School Meals have been universal in primary schools for two years and 90% of children choose hot, school dinners over cold packed lunches. Parents tell us the difference it makes for their finances, freeing up money for other activities for their children. Teachers can focus on teaching knowing every child is fed. Lunchtime is more fun and enriching, as schools renew their focus on making this period a better experience for all.  8 in 10 parents support this policy. Of all the measures to reduce the cost of living, this would make a tangible difference to a generation of children, while easing the pressure for parents. That is a legacy any government could be proud of.

I’m a foster carer; every penny we receive is spent on giving our children amazing experiences. We attend meetings after meetings, we complete daily admin, training and various sessions with other professionals. It’s hectic! We’ve always received FSM for our looked after children and it’s been a huge weight lifted financially & mentally. Now it’s either a rushed packed lunch in a morning or being chased by school to top accounts up. The selection of food at high school for our children is also quite poor. They need at least £5 a day to get something substantial and that adds up very quickly!

We have many children at our school in Birmingham that don't have breakfast (we provide toast) and the school dinner is their only hot meal of the day. Opening it up to all children would end food poverty and help so many more families. Every child deserves to have a hot meal every day in our country. School staff are paying out of their own salaries food to feed children… we aren’t paid enough to do this , but we can’t let children starve.

Children need one good meal a day and many are not getting that as parents are trying to juggle so much: work, home and, most of all, finances.

Every child needs to have free school meals and every mother needs a basic income to support her children.

Because me and my partner both work, I work days and he works nights so we can support our family. The cost of living is so high for us at the minute and we aren’t entitled to benefits. We still have our mortgage and bills to pay on top of food. I think that all children should receive school meals so that it is fair to all and just not benefit claimants. Us working parents are struggling too.

I will helps improve my family wellbeing and reduce stress from my coping expenses.

I’m a working mother in full time employment, my wages barely make £1,700 per month. I’m not on any other benefits except child’s benefit, I get £75 for my 3 children in maintenance so my monthly income doesn’t stretch. I just feel you should look at working parents to be included more often.

I feel every child should get a free hot dinner. There will no doubt be children in every school in the country who only get this one meal a day. Even if the parents are not on UC there's still families struggling with the current cost of living crisis. Free meals will help all these families who don't qualify for UC but are on a low wage. I'm lucky I can afford to pay for my children's meals without it having a serious effect on our household budget – others are not so lucky.

Some schools separate children at lunchtime, seating those who have dinners away from those with packlunch. This shouldn't happen as children should be able to choose to sit with their friends. Free school meals for all, should be for the children, not about charging those who work/have careers.

I am a student midwife, I have no wage coming in. My husband is the sole earner and apparently earns too much money for any assistance. We are struggling, but a criteria tells us we can cope. Please help families like mine. Our children deserve more.

Times are incredibly hard for working families at the moment. We don’t have two full incomes coming into our household, and despite working and doing our best to manage financially, we are struggling with the rising cost of living. What makes it even more frustrating is that we are told we don’t qualify for financial support because our income is just above the eligibility threshold. But being above that threshold doesn’t mean we aren’t struggling or that we have money to spare. On top of everything else, we still have to pay for our children’s school meals. It feels incredibly unfair that families who are only slightly above the threshold receive no help, despite facing many of the same financial pressures as families who qualify.

Every child deserves a hot meal for lunch regardless of their status of wealth. School lunch is not a luxury most families can afford to pay for. Typically costing £513 per child in an academic year. Parents have to result to packed lunches for various reasons. Children should not be left out of such a crucial part of school. A child that has a good meal learns better, compared to one fighting hunger and energy depletion.

I would love for this to continue, as my daughter loves warm meal at lunch time. We work full time and be grateful for this to be extended for working class parents.

To make it fair for every parent, to not have separate seating times at school, my daughter mostly takes in pack lunches food I've already brought, and she enjoys the school meals but I have to pay for the days she wants them so it's costing me more... Hopefully it'll be a cost saving thing for all.

Every child deserves a hot meal every day, they need the fuel for their learning. Parents need more help to make sure this happens.

As working parents we get very little support, I have to pick up extra shifts to be able to live comfortably. Free school meals would mean I wouldn't have to work extra shifts and spend more time with my child.

As a working Mum paying a mortgage, bills school uniform, breakfast clubs and afterschool clubs and clothes outside of school with a child who has ADHD and is autistic like any other parent who pays a lot out! It shouldn’t just be parents who are on benefits or on low income. It should apply to every child in the UK. As a full time worker I still can’t afford it all and it is very hard, and the breakfast clubs and afterschool prices keep going up and up.

I strongly believe that every child deserves a free school meal, regardless of their family’s financial situation. No child should ever feel hungry, left out or different because their parents cannot afford school lunches. As a mum, I believe every child deserves the same opportunities, and a healthy meal is such an important part of their day. Children should be able to focus on learning, playing and being happy, not worrying about food. Every child matters, and no child should be left behind.

No child should be left behind. All children should have access to free school meals, all children should be treated equally and fairly no matter their background, guaranteeing they have at least 1 nutritional meal a day. Times are just getting harder, shopping is getting forever more expensive without wages increasing. Allow all children to access free school meals, in primary school and secondary. One of my children has an allergy and it is so much more expensive for his packed lunch than my other child, he loves being able to have school meals and having a nice hot meal especially in the winter months.

As a teacher I see the struggles of cost of living crisis on many families and find myself purchasing breakfast cereals, bread, fruit and snack items out of my own money to ensure children are fed. Children cannot focus on learning if they are hungry and ensuring they have a free meal at school allows us to ensure they are full and ready to learn. Hunger leads to negative behaviours, lack of focus and impacts wellbeing. No child should miss out on learning due to hunger. Thank you

I strongly believe that school meals should be free for every child in primary school, regardless of their family’s income. My partner and I both work full time, yet we still struggle to afford the extra cost of school meals each month on top of all our other household bills, food shopping and the ever-increasing cost of living. We work hard to provide for our children, but even for working families, these additional costs can put real pressure on the monthly budget. Every child deserves access to a healthy, nutritious meal at school without their parents having to worry about whether they can afford it. Free school meals for all primary school children would help ease the financial pressure on families, ensure every child has the same opportunity to eat well, and remove the stigma that can sometimes come with receiving free school meals based on household income. Working full time shouldn’t mean families are automatically assumed to be financially comfortable. Many of us are doing everything we can, working hard and still struggling to make ends meet. Universal free school meals would be a practical way to support families, improve children’s wellbeing and ensure that no child misses out on a proper meal because of their family’s financial circumstances. Our children’s education, health and wellbeing should come first, and a nutritious school meal should be a basic part of every child’s school day — not an additional financial burden on parents.

I believe every child should have access to a free, warm meal at school, regardless of their family's financial circumstances. My family doesn't receive any benefits, but we work and pay taxes. I have three children, and I have to pay for school lunches for all of them because I don't want any of them to feel left out. One of my children has a disability, yet even he isn't entitled to a free school meal. I find this incredibly unfair. Every child deserves a warm meal at school, and no child should feel excluded simply because their parents don't qualify for benefits. School meals should be about children's wellbeing, not their parents' income.

It will be nice for all children to eat free school meals at no cost. I have two children in secondary school paying for school lunch, as it has never been easy at all. I know someone who has 4 children. In secondary and primary school, imagine how much the meal is every week. No money left for food in the house. I hope the government look into this and make it all free from primary school year 4. Thank you.

Every child should be entitled to free school meals - as a mid paid person, the cost of hot food/meals ontop of paying for before & after school club fees... this really adds up. And is well over half my wage... doesn't seem very fair when working parents work so hard & already have to pay out to cover the working day. We are no better off than parents who don't or cannot work.

For us it means my three children can have a cooked meal for lunch, it also means we don’t have to spend extra time and money on packed lunches which don’t always hit all the nutritional profiles where cooked meals regularly do. We pay our taxes and would be happy for that to be extended to free school meals for all children.

I think many people are struggling financially at the moment just because you're slightly above the requirements doesn't mean you have to struggle.

There are too many children that have to go without a meal which is potentially the only one they will have. With poverty rising, a lot more families are struggling and the children shouldn’t be punished by having to go without.

Our personal experience is with our boy that started nursery, not long ago. We usually manage with everything, but there are times that it's not very easy, as only my partner works. I am still not working as we having a little one as well. As a mum, I want the best for my kids and of course I would be grateful for all kids to have free meals at school. I'm not saying it's easy, but I think it's right!

Working parents of 4 kids, no benefits means we cover the cost of everything our family needs but the cost of living has sky rocketed and our monthly food bill alone has more than doubled. Something has to change, it’s not just families on benefits who are struggling.

My son started secondary school recently and most of his new friends receive free school meals but because his parents don't receive UC we have to pay for meals. Due to him seeing us budget, he goes days without eating to save money. How is this a fair system?

I am a mother of three children who are in primary school but, because of my income, we are not entitled to free school meals. Free school meals should be fixed for every child in the UK. Having to pay £202 for a 6 weeks term for meals (excluding 8 weeks terms) with low income is just too much for parents not receiving benefits. Having to eat cold packed lunches everyday whilst your classmates are eating hot meals sitting next to you is not just fair.

I'm a deputy manager in a primary school kitchen and also a mother to two children. Ever since I began working in my school and have seen first hand the positive impact a healthy school lunch can have on children, I have developed a passion for school meal provision and believe all children should have the opportunity to access them. I think the introduction of universal free school meals to the infants age group has been a huge success but unfortunately there are still children falling through the cracks who would benefit from a school dinner, the next logical step in my opinion is to extend it to all primary school children.

I do not know how children are supposed to concentrate and learn if their tummies are empty, when any person is hungry, the mind takes over their thinking to wanting. If parents aren't providing for children then we should help until something is done to ensure parents take on their responsibilities.

As a head teacher in the late 90s, a child’s lunch box fell open to travel one slice of dry white bread. That says it all, I’ve witness a child who was “failing to thrive” crying because he was no longer entitled to a small bottle of milk in school after charges came in. More recently I noticed a severely undernourished teenager at a swimming lesson and overheard a thin 7 year old that he would be denied food if he didn’t eat the cereals he requested. Some children are suffering the food deprivation of the post war years in 2026.

Every child deserves at least one nutritious, hot meal a day, regardless of their family’s financial situation. Many working families are currently struggling with rising costs but don't qualify for benefits. Universal free school meals will ensure no child goes hungry, improves concentration and learning in the classroom, and supports working parents.

Make this accessible to all children. It is essential that all young people are supported and encouraged to eat well at school. Please make this change now.

Nutrition is a basic human right and key to our children learning. Without food and proper food brains don't work properly. Give our children a proper chance. With the rise in the cost of living it's harder and harder to afford healthy food. School dinners are expensive over the week.

As a teacher I can see how all families benefit from a healthy and free school meal, and as a parent I can confirm that free school meals help alleviate the financial pressure that many families find themselves under during this difficult economic time when inflation is high and wages do not rise as quickly as the price of the weekly food shop.

Free meals for all school children will mean more than words can describe with the rising cost of living, I’ve seen my neighbours struggle to put food on the table let alone provide a packed lunch. I’m not going to lie it’s difficult for me too but my daughter has always had a good packed lunch a few months back she told me she was sharing her lunch with her friend as he only bought a couple of things. It really broke my heart, I had offered to help but his mom was really embarrassed to admit she couldn’t provide for her children, so now everyday my daughter takes extra food for her friend.

I claimed income support when my daughter started school. I now do not. Now the new eligibility check has come in, she is now no longer entitled. Despite the fact that financially I am actually worse off now I’m not claiming benefits. Yet aren’t entitled to any government help of free school meals. It isn't fair.

Not all working families can afford school dinners, why should just those out of work and the younger years qualify for free school meals?

This will help parents who have 2 or 3 children in primary school. Imagine how much they have to pay every day from primary 3. I have to use overdraft in my bank account to pay. It's very important if the government can make school meal free.

I believe all children should be entitled to free school meals, regardless of their parents’ income, employment status or whether their family receives benefits. Although both parents may work, that does not mean a family is financially comfortable. For many working families, the cost of living has become incredibly difficult to manage. Mortgage payments, energy bills, food, childcare, travel and everyday expenses all add up, and families can find themselves living from one payday to the next despite both parents being in employment. If we believe that children deserve the best possible start in life, then access to a healthy school meal shouldn’t depend on how much their parents earn. Children are not responsible for their family’s financial circumstances, and they shouldn’t be the ones who miss out because of them.

Fully behind the campaign as a former teacher and headteacher of 39 yrs. Guardian to a Nephee in full education and grandparent of two youngsters in Primary and nursery. The power of healthy meals for all children is vital.

The cost of living is impacting every family and those who are just sitting on the breadline have been impacted and means we are struggling with just the basics.

8 years ago I was a School Business Manager in a school in Atherton, Manchester which at that time was in the bottom 3% of socially deprived areas in the country with over 45% of children on free school meals. A hungry little boy inspired me to start our Breakfast Club. The boy was 10 at the time, and he always turned up to school hungry and needing a wash, so I used to find him something to eat and get him ready for the day. His situation made me wander how many more children were coming to school without having eaten breakfast. In this day and age no child should either turn up or spend a full day in school hungry, we can't expect children to get through the day on an empty stomach. We need to make sure that no child is disadvantaged and hopefully the government can find the funding for all Primary School children to have a healthy school

No child should be hungry at school and unable to learn as a result. And no child should be ashamed to have to take state handouts at lunchtime. Give all children free school meals for the sake of education and equity.

I am a grandparent of school age children, as today's parents struggle with rising costs and some times it's us that pick up the shortfall. The wages that come in the house don't meet outgoings, so cheap food or less food or no food as utilities rise.

As a single mum, not by choice, I worked and going hard to make ends meet. I was able to secure free school dinner which eased my mind knowing my boys were eating.

It means every child feels included and not segregated or discriminated against.

Unfortunately, I work in a secondary school where, on a daily basis, I see children who are supported by the government and who sometimes have to choose between having breakfast or having lunch because their families simply cannot afford both. It is heartbreaking. This is not the first time, and I am sure it will not be the last, that I have taken money out of my own pocket to buy food for some of these children. These are children who are considered vulnerable and who are living in poverty. For some of them, the meal they receive at school may be the only proper meal they have that day. So when that meal is not nutritious, filling or even something they can enjoy eating, I cannot help but think about what happens afterwards. They may go through the entire evening and night, and then most of the following morning, without eating again until lunchtime. As someone who sees this happening in front of me, it is incredibly upsetting and, honestly, very difficult to accept. No child should have to worry about whether they will have enough food to eat.

The Birmingham Food Justice Network knows first-hand how widespread hunger and poverty is in the UK. In particular, we know that use of food banks is not limited to those out of work or on benefits, but also includes many people who are working. As a result, there is a high likelihood that working parents will struggle to afford packed lunches and school meals for their children. We desperately need free school meals for all as a policy to highlight that not receiving benefits does not equate to being financially comfortable, and ultimately to relieve the tremendous pressure currently being shouldered by both parents and the community food system.

Every child needs to have free school meals and every mother needs a basic income to support her children.

It will help improve my family wellbeing and reduce stress from my coping expenses.

How are we supposed to move towards a culture of equality if we deny all children free school meals?

I am a grandmother of 5 and both my daughters struggle in this economic climate to make ends meet. A free school meal would help to take the pressure off the weekly grocery bill. There are so many young families out there struggling and going without basic things to survive.

There needs to be a unified approach to feeding children and less segregation. The numbers of working poor are growing and it is not okay that children are going without food.

I am a SEND school federation catering manager and we are seeing more and more children with very restricted diets but parents can’t always afford to buy food at home to increase the children’s palette. If school meals were free for all they could access a variety of foods without the cost and this will improve some pupils eating habits and, in turn, their health.

We're two parents working full time, and to feed our children at school its costs just under £80 a week per child. When our food bill at home alone is nearly £150, this added £80 makes such a difference. We are doing all we can for our children, yet struggle every week to make sure they have a decent meal whilst in education. We pay tax, we don’t ask for anything from the government, something needs to change, and this is a brilliant starting place. Listen to the people who are earning, providing and doing all we can, yet worry and struggle for the main necessities our children have a right too.

My wife and I have always worked hard to provide nutritious food for our six-year-old daughter. I believe every child should receive a free school meal, regardless of their family's income or the child's age. No child should feel different or go without a healthy meal. As taxpayers, it would be wonderful to know that our contributions are being used for such a positive purpose, such as nourishing children, supporting families, and investing in the next generation. Thank you for reading.

Too late for my children and grandchildren but still believe it’s essential to all children - plus please make them healthy.

My children always had school dinners, until I had to pay for all 3 of them. I now can't afford for all 3 everyday, so they only get them on a Friday. The universal free meals till Year 3 were great at the time. But now, at £3 a meal, it's £60 a month each. With 3 kids, that is £180. Free School Meals for All would be great. We don't get benefits, but cant afford £180 a month either.

How can it be fair that children in London receive free school meals all through primary school, yet in most of the country it’s only free for the first 3 years? Salaries are much lower outside of London, yet we have limited transport links in rural areas so the cost of schooling is disproportionately higher.

As a teacher and a parent, I can see on a daily basis the impact of lack of food or healthy food has on children's ability to focus, learn, enjoy their learning experience. No child should face the day without the chance to access nutritious food and too many families struggle at the moment to cope with this.

Some parents do not prioritise children. Some parents, working/non working, financially struggle, which causes hardship with daily living costs: children suffer with lack of food, lack clothes, they're underfed or bullied at school or are not getting breakfast/the right balanced diet. Working families should also get free school meals. I don't know how paying taxes, and all bills, daily living, then the weekly amount charged for each school child for school meals is expected of working families.

We need to look after our young people and eating a healthy diet is vital for everyone.

Children cannot learn when hungry. It's a terrible distraction, leading to poor concentration and poor behaviour. A simple thing like starting the day without hunger can improve a child's life chances significantly.

Some children I know come to school not having had any breakfast, so a good meal at lunchtime is something at least. Some children may not even have much of a dinner at home, if one at all.

No child should have to sit in a classroom feeling hungry because their family cannot afford a healthy lunch. Hunger can make it difficult for children to concentrate, learn and take part fully in school. It would also help families with the rising cost of living. Parents would have one less expense to worry about, while knowing their children are receiving a healthy meal each school day. Most importantly, investing in children's health and education is an investment in the country's future. Every child deserves the chance to learn, grow and succeed, and a healthy meal should not depend on how much money their parents earn.

Familles should not have to struggle to feed their children at school. If the worry of meal is gone, parents can be more at peace and therefore support their children better.

Every child deserves the right to a hot meal while at school. For some children, in this current climate, and with the other costs parents face, the price of a daily school meal or providing a daily packed lunch adds a lot of pressure.

Children cannot focus and learn if they’re hungry. There are too many families struggling to feed their children. They deserve to be fed a proper hot meal.

I'm a working single father struggling to pay bills.

As a retired teacher, having taught children from deprived families in the past, I have seen, first-hand, how very difficult it is for them to concentrate on their work, rather than the gnawing hunger in their tummies.

Free school meals for all can change millions of children’s lives and futures for the better: so do it!

It’s essential to ensure children can concentrate and focus on learning activities - hungry kids struggle to do this.

In my opinion, if a child has to be in school by law, and that involves being there over several hours, then in my opinion the school has a duty to feed the children while in their care.

Every parent understands this instinctively — food is the foundation for learning, health, and wellbeing. But right now, too many children across our communities are starting their school day hungry. This isn’t because of lack of care, but because families are facing rising costs and impossible choices. Hunger should never stand between a child and their education. That’s why I am calling for free school meals for all children. A universal approach removes stigma, guarantees that no child slips through the cracks, and ensures every pupil has the nourishment they need to learn, grow, and reach their full potential. Investing in children’s nutrition is investing in their future — and in the future of our society.

It is also important for children to eat together at school and to have a healthy break. Some children skip eating all day at school if there is not a set time together with everyone. My son chats and forgets to eat. Plus a choice of food is great. It also teaches children to make time to eat it is organised and paid for they will have to therefore make the time to stop and eat together at the same time otherwise this is regularly forgotten by lots of children.

I had free school meals when I was school boy. It was a great help for me and my family.

So many kids in KS2 have a packed lunch lacking nutritious food because their free school meals have ended.

Until child poverty is eradicated, I believe free school meals are necessary to ensure each child has the ability to concentrate in school and make the most of their education. Also this would in the long term improve children's health, thus also helping the NHS.

I am 79 years old and, when I was at school, many families were struggling after the war. I was fortunate, my father came home but I still remember other children who came to school without having breakfast and some with no dinner either. Many of these children fell behind their classmates. Children are the future and a good early-education gives them the start to become doctors, scientists, entrepreneurs etc. who will make a better life for everyone.

If the Prime Minister can scrap the 2 child cap on family allowance, he can allow all children to benefit from a free school meal, to ensure they have a warm meal at school and that hard-working parents who are struggling with the cost of living crisis don’t feel ashamed because they can’t afford the rising cost of school dinners.

As a 77 year old retiree who has benefitted from decades of support from schools where there were daily lunchtime meals and morning milk, a healthcare service NHS that in early years provided free orange juice, cod liver oil and spoon of malt weekly, all giving a basis for a healthy life and career opportunities that provided a comfortable life - I believe that the society that my parents generation provided for us has been eroded and needs to be restored.

The cost of living is so high, that despite me and my partner both working full time, we simply cannot afford for our children to have school dinners everyday on the top of the normal household food bill.

I was never charged or means-tested for my kids' school meals. To do so would imply that some kids should have to go without a meal, and that would be unthinkable and uncivilised. Of course they should all have free school meals; how can this even be a subject of debate?

All children deserve to be fed at school. No matter their background or parent/carers income.

All children should be treated the same. Parents are finding it hard to afford good healthy food for their children with the cost of living at an all-time high, it would be great for them to know their child has had a healthy meal at school.

No child can reach their full potential on an empty stomach and there's a huge shame attached to free school meals. Schools are places of care - let's look after all our kids better.

Families are really struggling to feed their children and themselves with the cost of living crisis. Some children go to school without breakfast, so it’s important that they have a nutritious meal at lunchtime, they may not get much when they go home from school.

The money spent on our childrens' school lunches every day soon adds up, because as working parents we have to fork out for everything else. The uniforms' the wraparound care, the trips, this is just becoming another strain.

This would help a lot of struggling families and make all pupils feel equal regardless of their background.

I am a dinner lady and too often there are children coming into school in the morning having not had breakfast because there was no food in the house. Quite often these are children that are not on free school meals which means they won't have anything in their lunch box or indeed anything for tea. If I could afford to pay for their meals I would.

Being a single mum it is hard with the cost of living going up. Free school meals would take a massive pressure off families.

Hello Prime Minister, I'm 85 and can remember the subsidised school meals, from the Labour Government right after the Second World War. Let's have the meals on the table for our youth.

Due to cost of living crisis.

Give the children all the opportunities to reach their potential whilst reducing barriers.