I was neglected and often hungry at school.

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.

As a retired teacher and a grandparent I know how important this is for individual children.

There are not enough support workers able to assess every child and every family and not all families want assessed. Just feed the kids (all kids) when they are at school.

Nobody should go hungry in the uk.

Good food in the morning is so important.

All children deserve a midday meal to keep them fit and healthy and enable them to reach their full potential during their formative years.

Make welfare universal like healthcare & education up to 18.

These children are our country’s future. They deserve better. If children in London can have a free lunch why can’t children in Leeds, my home city, benefit in the same way?

One child is getting free meal and his class fellow is watching him and felt depressed "why is am not getting this meal?" It is impacting child confidence and motivation, clear discrimination is impacting child brains.

At least we will know they have 1 healthy meal a day.

Prime Minister invest in the generation ahead or this country will end up crumbling down. Don't leave any child behind.

Every child should get the privilege of having at-least one full meal in the day!

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

Keep free breakfast clubs going my kids love it when sitting next to friends chatting away, eating a good nutritious breakfast.

I am now retired but I was an advanced skills teacher and a county teacher for Norfolk. I have worked in many areas where money was tight and children were hungry. I know first hand the importance of good nutrition and full tummies. I helped establish many breakfast clubs. In one school we took over the kitchens and employed our own chef. Before SATs we all had breakfast together. I have seen how children cope much better in the afternoons when they have had a decent lunch.

Working in school catering and being a mom I know how important free school meals are for both parents and the children

Having worked in the FE College sector I know how free school meals have a beneficial impact on students' learning.

I'm a member of Liverpool Citizens, a chapter of Citizens UK and several schools are with us and are campaigning hard for this. Monksdown Primary School and Holy Cross Roman Catholic Primary School are members of Liverpool Citizens.

These children are our future leaders and decision makers and it’s essential we give children nourishment to enable them to learn.

You have no idea what it is like to live in the real world the struggles families face every single day. Because if you did you would take this one pressure struggle off of all families.

There are so many children who need a balanced diet and school meals are the only form of nutrition they have. Too many children arrive into school without breakfast regardless of their financial background. You can see a difference in each child after lunch, a difference in being alert in class and ready to learn, and enjoying the afternoon.

All schools within the country should be able to provide the same nutrition, we are surrounded by countries that understand how important the school years are and how important eating well is ,and how this aids concentration within classrooms, if you as a minister miss a meal or have a poor lunch you understand how that can affect the rest of your day, a hungry or poorly fed child will not function at their best and could be a distraction too the rest of the class. It's not just about providing a meal, but the nutritionally correct meal for every child.

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

I remember when I was teaching that some children came having had a cooked evening meal and breakfast and some not and what a difference that made. Free school meals would help each child reach their potential, and give them better health, so that each child could be able to concentrate on learning.

I know from first hand experience what it is like to go hungry from time to time as a child, I’m 79 now and still remember hard times, I’ve worked hard I’m lucky to be comfortable now. But it hurts me to think that in a country like ours with such prosperity children are not cherished by our society in the way they should be, it makes good sense to look after the ones who will run things one day.

Children are benefiting from Free hot dinners. Healthy well-nourished children will free-up NHS pressure because families are healthier and happier making our entire UK nation thriving healthy and happy.

Year after year family expenses are increasing while income is stagnating. The situation for working families is becoming increasingly dire, with many parents struggling to make the financial decisions that keep the family healthy and able to cope. Any pressure that can be taken off the family gives students the opportunity to find themselves at home. Childhood and school in general are already a source of stress on young people, and ensuring that children have access to free and nutritious meals takes away one of the largest barriers to their education, and to achieving their full potential.

Because it is not just children whose families receive benefits who face lunch/health poverty. Many parents are working long hours or more than one job in order to provide for their children. A home cooked meal is not always possible. As a teacher, I see the remarkable difference a healthy diet can make to a child's enjoyment of their day, and their ability to learn. I believe a free school meal should be available to every child, regardless of their social or economic status.

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

I own a primary school food business and am not wanting extra money but I see first hand what children are sent in school with in their pack lunches and I would say not all but most are full of chocolate and unhealthy choices.

I believe that every child should have access to a warm healthy meal every day. The cost of living and the price of buying food keeps going up and it’s having a negative impact on families. How can they afford to give their children and healthy home cooked meal or lunch when McDonald’s do cheaper dinners?

Because no child should go hungry. Every child should be able to have a free school meal - it will help the child to not only grow, but also learn better from having a healthy free school meal that suits all kids.

This is a great campaign - a life saver to those parents struggling with the cost of living. It should be echoed all over the UK.

As a child at school in the 1950s and ’60s it was the norm to have school meals. I came from a comfortable middle class background, my closest (and lifelong) friend came from a poor working background from a council estate. It never ever crossed my mind that there might be a barrier between us and the fact of eating together every day, together with our other friends, certainly played a part in this. It’s so important.

I feel that society has failed many people and in doing so this has affected our children. No one should go hungry. Our children are innocent victims. They are our future and we should help, guide and protect them. Giving them a breakfast and school dinner (preferably a lovely wholesome meal cooked from scratch) is a start.

I benefited from Free school meals through the 1950’s and 1960’s as a child . I could see the strategic benefits to the children and teenagers in our care as a Teacher/Headteacher in Primary and Secondary Education .

No child should be hungry at school. All children should have quality, free school meals.

No child should go hungry in the 6th richest country in the world; you can't learn if you're too hungry to think!

As an ex teacher I’m aware of how hunger can affect both application and behaviour. No child should have the most crucial time of their young lives blighted by something so avoidable and, to the government of one of the richest countries, so very affordable. It is simply false economy to do anything other than feed our children, whatever their circumstances.

I support free school meals for all because no child should go hungry.

To improve child health and reduce obesity

I'm a teacher, and I want my pupils to be able to concentrate.

If children are hungry and cannot learn properly, their chances of success are diminished and their opportunities reduced.

The staff can be assured that every child has had a good meal 5 days a week, regardless of their home circumstances. Let's do it!

Put children first, use your power to ease poverty, tell voters they should consider it a moral duty to care about every child, educate our children as much as possible, and run a campaign to educate adults to take full responsibility for their children in divorce or separation. Let’s make our country child friendly! And discourage the pitting of one age group against another. Don’t be ashamed to stand up for a kinder society.

Dear Prime Minister, Food is part of a child’s daily life and no parents or child should worry first thing in the morning preparing or finding food for lunch for the day. This life is complicated and hard for all off us, so if the Prime Minister can take care of this one little thing that matters (free school dinner) the most to all children, parents, caregivers and educators then life would feel a little more comfortable. Thank you!

Every child deserves a meal.

FSM for all pupils. Go and watch lunchtime in a school where the pupils are scrounging food from others as their families can’t afford to feed them.

There are too many benefits to name. I work at a secondary that feeds every student every day, The Urswick school, and have seen the benefits first hand. We go further in policy than most primaries and ban outside food completely and require every student to eat from the canteen. This helps to ensure correct nutrition and guard against allergies, stops a sugar rush after break and gives the school useful data around students eating in order to offer better support to students. The return on investment for all of these benefits and more will easily pay for the meals we give now and a forward facing government that wants to invest in our future has no better option.

Because there is poverty in many areas of the U.K - Not just London. Children should not be labelled and stigmatised by receiving free meals. It should be their right. All should receive them.

Just do it!

Hot school lunches with meat, vegetables and puddings with custard were the wonderful early memory of my late wife who came to this country at age 9. My grandmother was school cook at my primary school so I am biased.

Families have enough to try to make ends meet at home with the extortionate expectations of school uniform, cost of trips so the children don't miss out. And cost of living at home. It's just too much, and no child should ever worry about the financial impacts eating or learning has on them just being.

No child should go hungry in this country. Childen need food to focus. Only with a good education will children be able to lift themselves out of poverty.

Not only would it take financial burden off families, it would also help children in achieving a healthy and balanced diet to stay focused in their learning

Although I am not in any benefits, having free school meals past year one would really take the pressure off financially. I will not be able to afford the amount of the school dinners once my eldest moves into year 3 in September. We do not meet the threshold to get free school meals but we also don't earn a lot of money like others.

The pressure of families not being able to go to work or worrying about their hungry children should be a pressure that doesn't exist.

I have seen how a child with a full belly can improve their learning at school.

I taught for 40 years in schools in deprived areas. Eating good food together improves behaviour throughout the day.

Every child should be entitled to a free school meal.

Some children will not get a hot meal without this.

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

Many parents are working hard to provide for their families and this would ease the pressure a little.

A hot school meal was my main meal when I was younger and no child in this day should go hungry. Families are struggling to put meals on the table and the government should be helping them by providing a lunch free to all school children irrespective of age especially in the younger years.

To make sure all children have a warm meal.

I am a single mum working full time at a reasonable salary, but still struggle to make ends meet because of the increased cost of living.

Look at the example of other countries where a free school meal is a standard part of school life. The benefits are numerous and it makes economic sense in the long term.

Children need to be fed properly to learn to their capacity

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.

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

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

I was born in Zimbabwe. Although poor, we, my brother and sister, never ever went hungry. In this day and age no child should ever go hungry! No child!

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.

Where families have children in different schools, they all dont have the same school meal options, so not all the children within the family are eating as well outside of the home and the families are not able too make up the difference.

Rolling out free school meals to all primary school children would make a huge difference in reducing child poverty meaning no child would go hungry.

Free school meals for all!

Healthy warm nutritious food for every child!

Do the right thing!

He needs to realise that 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.

The Prime Minister should please give priority to this suggestion, because it will aid the children's learning.

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.

Because average working class parents struggle to pay for a warm meal for their children. It’s hard that such children have to miss out.

Because all children around the world deserve a warm and healthy meal while they are learning at school. Imagine trying to learn your lessons while your tummy is rumbling - it stops the child being able to concentrate. It's wrong and in todays society no child should be hungry at all.

I believe the children are our future, treat them well, and let them lead the way, show them all the beauty that exists inside of them, and let the children's laughter, remind us, how it used to be!

It takes the pressure off families knowing that their child has actually eaten a good meal in the day, especially if their families are struggling at home to feed them a nutritional meal.

I see it as a positive contribution to the education of our children, and this will go a long way in supporting, and aiding their learning concentrations.

We all know that healthy eating is vital, especially so for growing children. Free school meals guarantee that all children have a chance to grow, and to learn.

I am a practising Registered Nurse of over 40 years. During my 20 years working in the NHS I have first-hand experience treating/caring for children who have suffered child poverty, malnourished, suffered various physical conditions and mental health issues.Hence this is very close to my heart.

I believe that free school meals should be rolled out for all children, primary and secondary, across the UK. It is only right that all children are given a healthy start.

I grew up within a low income family however we did not qualify for any benefits, including free school meals. As a child I was desperate to receive free school meals as I was constantly hungry.

Because every child matters and NO child should go hungry, no matter the circumstances they are in.

Give all children an equal footing and fund healthy food for everyone

There is no difference between a hungry child in years R, 1 and 2 and those in years 3, 4 and 5!

Every child deserves a free hot and healthy school meal as many children don't get a hot meal at all at home.

I have been a teaching assistant since 2008 and since then I have gone from being able to afford to live to being close to having to go to food banks. At no point have we qualified for free school meals which has meant that giving our own children a decent packed lunch has been difficult at times. It has been considerably worse in the last decade. I have witnessed first hand children coming into school with nothing to eat. This is a stain on our country!

Please provide free school meals for every child - this will encourage social cohesion, improve diet and eating habits (and thus the health of children and adults), and improve educational achievement, especially for children in low-income families. These are morally important aims - and also economically sensible.

A happy, healthy nation needs every citizen to be properly nourished. Free school meals are the cheapest and most efficient way to achieve this.