One of my earliest jobs after leaving school in the sixties was as a junior clerk in the School Meals section of a Local Education Authority. At that time meals were directly provided by the LEA. There were enforceable nutritional standards and a fixed (low) price, which was meant to meet the cost of the raw materials with the LEA funding the cost of labour, premises, fuel, etc. Later on, I was a welfare rights worker, and really saw the inefficiencies of means testing at first hand. We had a saying: “Benefits for the poor are always poor benefits”. The most efficient benefit in the UK system was – and no doubt still is – Child Benefit, because it achieves almost 100% take up. The two experiences together convince me that universal free school meals are the only possible route to improving the health, educational prospects and social welfare of all our children. And that view is reinforced by the experience of my Finnish grandchildren. There, children get a free meal regardless of income; they eat together as an integral part of the school day. And during school holidays staff bring sandwiches and soup to parks and playgrounds for the children who are there. Why do our rulers not aspire even to match the provision we had in the sixties, and the provision that other advanced economies make for their children? Is the nation less wealthy now than it was then? Or just less caring?

Free school meals for all primary school children is a must. Healthy, nutritious meals allow children to concentrate, learn and reach their full potential at school.

My grandson went to primary school in a very deprived area in Washington, Tyne and Wear. After he aged out of the national free-school meals provision he still got them. This was because he was a former Looked After Child, and we were on income related benefits. But by Year 3 some of his classmates were having to pay. These were families where only one adult worked, or whoever worked was on minimal hours or low wages. They struggled to pay for the lunches - maybe they had more than 1 school-aged child. The thing that shocked me the most was that the Headteacher told me that the school had many families who had considerable school dinner debts and they resisted chasing these families. When this didn't work they used the schools Emergency Fund to help them. And sometimes teachers brought in packed lunches for those children whose families couldn't even afford these. They were dished out by the dinner ladies, so no-one knew! We know that children and young people learn better if they've had sufficient to eat - hence the breakfast clubs running in many schools. In such a wealthy country, it's totally disgusting that families are living in this type of poverty. Research shows that free school meals are an excellent way to help! A retired teacher, with a grandson now in secondary school.

A child cannot learn if their body is not nourished and their brain is not properly fuelled, and with the rising cost of living, most children only get hot meals when they are in school. Having those meals paid for by the government is the best solution.

Would mean a lot, what with everything going up, knowing my child gets a free dinner or lunch.

Because every child deserves free school meals, especially when many families are struggling financially even with groceries. No child deserves to go without food.

The cost of living crisis means too many families are struggling to put healthy, nutritious meals on the table. Extending free school meals to all primary aged pupils will help families.

All children should be entitled to free schools meals. All children deserve to be fed and looked after in school as we don’t know everyone’s home lives. Whilst they are in our care they should all be treated the same.

There are too many families who cannot afford nutritious, healthy food for their children. There should be an equality in all children having hot dinner and not a divide in just FSM children. It causes a social divide that we could easily fix and it's an easy way to ensure we keep children's health a priority.

Children should be given the best start in life and food should be a necessity not a luxury.

The threshold to receive FSM is startlingly low. It leaves so many families without support and those who suffer most from the oversight are children who are hungry. We must do better.

Children need a consistent learning diet and food diet. Cheaper food is highly processed. In my experience, disadvantaged children are more unhealthy: eating lots of fast food, ready meals and snacks. They are not able to learn when not given the correct fuel for the day. Free school meals for all and fewer packaged lunches would improve health and learning.

As a teacher and parent I see first hand how hard people work to support their family.

Our students deserve every opportunity given to them and they can't take full advantage of these when they're hungry.

It's not just free school meals eligible pupils, other people live up to the limit of their means to pay their mortgage or rent month to month and this would make sure no child goes hungry.

I am a childrens home manager and qualified social worker looking after looked after children by the local authority. I have seen the impact of not having a healthy meal. This should not fall down to class, wage of a parent. Parenting lack of capacity does not discriminate nor does alcohol and substance misuse and I have looked after children from both working class and high income who have neglected children and resulted in children being, abused by deprivation of right to food and water. Some children school dinner is their only hot meal. If all children receive this they feel so not different from one another.

Because the food is too expense and many parents can not afford. We don’t want our children saber from famine while in schools .

My Grandaughter lost her daddy 2 years ago, my daughter does not qualify for support and is struggling as she has the mortgage and all bills to pay from her wage. My daughter has had to change her job & work extended hours to keep their home. Not having to pay £52 a month for school dinner would give her an extra £624 a year would ease some of the pressure! At current prices if school lunches were provided they would be £1872 better off over the 3 years left in primary school!

Every child deserves to be fed! Whether you're on any sort of benefits or not, with the cost of living going up people are struggling to afford basic needs such as food! If you want children to do well on school, then let’s give them the opportunity of nice warm food, especially now the weather is changing.

Children should be having a healthy hot meal at school and parents should not be expected to pay for this!

As an ex teacher and SENCO, and a grandparent of 6, I have experienced the impact of hunger and poor nutrition on concentration and learning in the classroom, and the difference it makes to a child's overall wellbeing.

Some families are struggling to feed their children and a hungry child cannot learn in school. This makes sure that children have at least one cooked meal a day.

Children need good sustenance in the middle of the day to help boost their learning.

I had school dinners as a child, am now 77 and although my mother paid for them it ensured we ate a meal.

Because life and bills are hard enough, a school meal should be provided or even a small charge of like 50p but when its £1.20 just for one drink, its ridiculous.

What your income is should not dictate whether or not your child gets free school meals. There is a lot that happens behind the scene that is not present on the money coming in. Every child and parent should have the ability to know there is a warm nutritional meal waiting for them regardless of what is happening at home

Not everyone has an income coming in as a family. I have my husband working and I am a full time carer for my mother with dementia and mobility problems and carers allowance is nothing. With everything increasing, they should support kids with families.

I also struggle to pay, I’m always behind or in debt. Just because we have a job doesn’t mean it’s any easier, it doesn’t cut half our bills!

I don't have younger children now but I do believe every child deserves them, as its nourishing warming and healthy.

Cost of living is soaring right now, food, energy, rent… it all adds up. I honestly feel so grateful, as a single mother to two children, working and studying, that my children finally qualify for free school meals. No matter what statistics say every one struggles. I remember the days at school when I wasn’t entitled. I remember feeling singled out, and seeing friends having to queue up separately for tickets. It felt unfair then, and it matters so much that it doesn’t have to be like that now. Making them free lifts that worry off everyone’s shoulders.

With the stress of juggling finances and making ends meet, many parents are working hard to provide for their families and this would ease the pressure.

I work as a Police officer. After paying tax, national insurance and mandatory fees we are really struggling with 2 children at high school. I pay £60 per week for 2 children for school meals and the school bus travel meaning we are unable to save any money each month.

Every child deserves a good meal every day whilst in school. Look after the future, regardless of the income of parents.

Even when my eldest starts in year 3 my wife will only be working part time due to the youngest still going to nursery. Aside from that working full time for her while I do shift work and the kids are so young is nearly impossible due to school holidays. You normally get 5 weeks off per year per parent. 13 weeks off required to cover and thats not allowing sick or a week off together, ever! Most working families have only 1 full time worker until kids are older for reasons mentioned above. That is why I believe free school dinners should be for ALL primary school age children. Everyone is skint, things keep going up apart from wages. You can only cut your cloth so much until there's nothing left to cut.

There's no point in kids being at school if they're too hungry to learn.

Families are struggling enough at home, at least let a child get a meal in school.

All children should be able to start the day with their minds and bodies fuelled, not sit with stomachs rumbling and listless.

Everyone knows children focus and learn better when they are not hungry. Giving a free meal to every child takes the stigma away from who can and who cant afford a hot meal. Every child is equal. Having to make a packed lunch everyday,thinking of different things to pack is very stressful. A free school lunch would take the pressure of parents just one less thing to worry about. Makes the world of difference to parents.

Not all families including those where both parents are working can afford to pay for extra meals for their children. This would mean my child can have a hot dinner especially as we enter the colder months. A number of my child’s friends, can’t afford uniform either though both parents are working. 

So many parents and working parents are struggling to make ends meet.

I saw children deprived in many ways, one particular little boy at a school was so obviously neglected in every way no sole to his shoe, not washed and obviously malnourished. And yet his parents were not poor, he was the youngest of 4 children. He had breakfast at school and school dinners. When he went home at the end of the day he wasn't given a meal, just shoved out again with a bag of crisps. I wanted to help him, social services had tried but the parents were indifferent. Children, even if they come from what may be a reasonably well off family can still be neglected and be going hungry and might fall through the net of care.

This will reduce financial burden and improve the children's health supporting their learning outcomes.

Every child should be guaranteed at least one one healthy meal per day, unfortunately this is not always possible at home.

To pay for school meals for 2 children is over £100 a month, this is a massive amount for a family to find for their child to have a hot meal. This will ease my money as I was going to have to pay for 2 children from september, I now will receive free school meals for them which is a great help but even people who do not receive universal credit will struggle to pay for the school meals and I think that all primary children should receive a hot meal to aid learning and healthiness

So no child goes hungry - no one knows what goes on at home & a wealthier family doesn’t necessarily = a guaranteed healthy diet or food in the table!

It should be available for all. I have two primary school aged children and my husband and I both work and I do not see why claimants receive it and not others - by the time we have our wages and pay extra for childcare and school meals etc… we have less money than people who claim universal credit. It should be fair for all children.

All of us are paying taxes, all of kids deserve good meals and equal opportunities, if government can spend money in other areas they can spend in our schools.

Every child deserves a nutritional lunch. Lots of the children that bring a pack lunch to school have sugary items and no matter how much we speak to parents, this won’t change. We worry they are not getting the nutrients they need for their development.

I support this as I have 5 great grandchildren and I see everyday how their parents are struggling with paying bills and buying food. I think all kids should get free school meals. Kids are kids whatever their background or their needs. 

I work in the school kitchen, I am the Assistant Chef. I like to make sure we provide a healthy meal to all the children daily, for some it is probably the only hot meal they will get. It will be a great help for the children in the community who are not eligible for free meals.

My son is now in year 9 and it costs me £75 a month for school meals, some days he has nothing because there is not a lot left. Some days he has a good meal. Other days is pretty basic a cold sandwich!! We as working parents still get penalised. We don’t earn a fortune.. why can’t all school children get free meals?

I think free school meals should be for everyone within the UK, not just London. And regardless of income high or low! I’ve been on a high pay bracket as a family before and by the time you pay childcare, household bills, food, after school curricular activities, hobbies etc there is barely enough to cover the cost….even doing packed lunch daily is costly! So imagine all those on low income as I am now! For some children that may be their ONLY decent meal of the day!

I see a lot of children who come to school hungry. Every child deserves a hot dinner whilst at school. It’s also a way for every child to bond with friends.

I was a headteacher in an area of deprivation. In my first few weeks a child fainted in assembly because they had not eaten for nearly 48 hours. The food provided by the Local Authority was for free school meal pupils only but many parents didn’t claim, including some that were unable because they were unable to read or write. I witnessed lots of poverty where children’s futures were impacted by their backgrounds.

It is horrible thinking that some children are forced to go hungry whilst others are fed.

As a working parent, working as a teacher I have an affordable income however with the increase of other costs and now all 3 of my children in KS2 I am now having to pay £210 a month for my children to have a school dinner. Working parents are worse off and it's not fair.

I have seen poverty and some children rely on that one meal which costs very little and to make sure they get some nourishment at least once a day.

Too many children can't focus because they are hungry and/or lacking energy from not eating enough nutrients.

The free school meals are good for everybody.

I believe a lot of people who have mortgages & work are far worse off than those who receive Universal Credit as without rent you don’t have to be on a great salary to have your entitlement wiped out, probably have to pay a high mortgage repayment. I also believe eating together builds bonds and it gives children the opportunity to try new foods & to be guaranteed at least one healthy balanced meal a day.

Eating a complete diet can save a child a whole heap of trouble through their lives. Free School Meals for All just gives children a better start in life.

Because food is expensive - if it can be free in infants and keeps child nourished, it should be free for all children

Through my career as a teacher I have seen too many hungry children both in primary school and secondary, parents trying to ensure their children had food by buying the cheapest things available whether they were healthy options or not, just something to put in their child’s stomach.

I don't get any support due to my partner having savings and so my child would be at a disadvantage as not eligible for universal credit even though I work part time. I don't receive any help.

I grew up with school meals, they are vital in helping children learn. It helps the country to have educated people.

Every child should have a hot meal each day at school.

I see pupils day in and day out struggle to access education simply because they are hungry. Teachers are providing food and snacks to support pupils through the day, without this the children in their care would not be able to concentrate fully or reach their full potential. For what is only a few pounds a week, we could make a real long term impact on children's education and future lives.

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. Let’s give every child the dignity, equality, and opportunity they deserve.

Stop the stigma associated with FSM, which some students/families feel and which can stop them from benefiting from FSM.

Good nourishing food increases concentration and the ability to learn.

We worked and saved towards a secure future for our retirement. Now as Kinship carers who are special guardians for two young boys, we find ourselves unable to access any benefits and means tested with our earnings, in a few years this will be our pensions that we have worked hard for. Yet we find ourselves paying for school meals alongside other expenses that come with two growing children. We are one Kinship family of many who have stepped up to raise children and find ourselves penalised for working hard and saving.

As the city’s food alliance, Feeding Liverpool supports the extension of Free School Meals to every child as an important means of preventing food insecurity, looking after the health of our young people and transforming our food environments. Working families excluded from current FSM policy are facing increasingly stretched household budgets as food inflation continues to rise. Extending access to a hot, healthy meal to every child is about prioritising children’s welfare and education, whilst alleviating cost of living pressures we are all still struggling with.

For me it was vitally important when I first started campaigning for FSM as I had children in primary school and high school, but what I came to realise is that this needs to be about every child. We don’t know what’s going on at home when a child arrives at school, what should be a priority is that every child can access a hot healthy meal there. That principle shouldn’t be affected by parents income, it should be a right.

I think school meals should be for all students in every year from infants to high school and it should be free for everyone. I have to pay for my children sometimes I have the money, sometimes I don't have the money for it because we're not on universal credit so it's very expensive.

If it wasn't for school meals that were free I genuinely would not have made it to GCSE and I would not have gone on to eventually complete my Masters. Fed children learn and engage.

I work in the school kitchen and would love for school meals to be free.

Having enough decent food is part of education. It says we all matter whoever we are.

For those without any support, the cost of school meals for the children is becoming more and more expensive. All children should be able to have warm cooked meals instead of workers having to resort to packed lunches to try help costs at home.

My child is going into year 3 and I will have to skip some meals for myself to cover the cost of lunch

Hungry children can't focus and learn. With the cost of living crisis parents, like myself, find it difficult to afford school lunches.

The cost of living crisis means that not every child gets to eat 3 meals a day.

There are children that the school meal is the only substantial meal of the day!

Often those not entitled are the ones who struggle financially the most as they just miss out on the benefits. The middle class working parents struggle the most.

I know from working as a teacher that pupils are happier and find it easier to concentrate and learn when they eat a decent meal on a regular basis. I feel no child should suffer hunger and be held back from fulfilling their potential by this basic need.

As The Hub Community Centre in Altrincham, we advocate for free school meals for all primary school children because it aligns with our core commitment to social justice and compassion. Ensuring every child receives a nutritious meal eliminates the stigma and financial burden currently associated with means-tested eligibility, allowing all children to thrive regardless of their family's income. A well-fed child is better equipped to concentrate and learn, leading to improved educational outcomes for the entire community. This is a practical expression of our belief in the inherent dignity of every person, ensuring no child in our town is left hungry and that all have the best possible start in life.

As Altrincham Baptist Church, we advocate for free school meals for all primary school children because it aligns with our core commitment to social justice and compassion. Ensuring every child receives a nutritious meal eliminates the stigma and financial burden currently associated with means-tested eligibility, allowing all children to thrive regardless of their family's income. A well-fed child is better equipped to concentrate and learn, leading to improved educational outcomes for the entire community. This is a practical expression of our belief in the inherent dignity of every person, ensuring no child in our town is left hungry and that all have the best possible start in life.

At Food For Thought, we see every day how access to a hot, nutritious meal helps children to thrive in school- supporting not just their health, but also their focus, confidence and ability to learn. Positive steps have already been made, but more must be done. It is vital that we invest in the wellbeing, education and future of our children. Extending free school meals would remove stigma and barriers, but these meals must not only be free, they must also be good: fresh, nutritious, local food that supports children and strengthens communities. Free school meals, done the right way, are about ensuring that every child, rightfully so, has the opportunity to flourish.

Since Covid, we have seen an alarming increase in the deprivation in our community and families struggling with the cost of living. We regularly send home food or give out food vouchers. We offer free breakfast to all of our pupils across all ages as we know we cannot teach any child that arrives in school hungry! There should be no need to do this in the 21st Century in Western Europe. We fully support this plea to roll out free school dinners to all Primary aged children.

I received free school meals as a child... I had to go get my ticket separately and the teachers would openly ask who qualified for a free lunch..During the week it was the only balanced hot meal I had... weekends were toast, maybe with beans...

My husband was a teacher. He taught in a large secondary school in a deprived area of Coventry. I can tell you the accounts he used to bring home of some of the children, who clearly hadn't eaten before they arrived at school, were heartbreaking and often reduced me to tears. Some of those children couldn't afford to eat at lunch time either. Naturally this would affect behaviour in the classroom but this is hardly surprising. It is a tragedy, that in a country that is purportedly one of the richest countries in the world, that this can happen to some families who cannot afford to feed their children

My children live on the breadline. My divorce and childcare means there is just £100 a week left for petrol and living costs. Cost of living is ridiculous.

I am a retired Primary school teacher. I started work in 1973 and realised that some of the children in my children in my classroom struggled to learn simply because they were hungry. I started bringing in milk and cereals for them. I feel and continue to feel that a hungry child has absolutely no chance of learning.

So many children get lost or don't have proper hot meals during these times of uncertainty and high living costs.

Because children are our future and food will help them to learn better and be better. Its a win win. Cancel the orders for guns and ammunition and redirect the funds to food for our future. Give peas a chance.

My grandchild is starting secondary school and the key thing he is worried about is whether he will have enough money for lunch and to buy bottled water as on the 3 day induction he ran out, got thirsty and had to borrow money from a friend. Both his mum and dad are working and are paying nearly £1000 for private rent and his mum has struggled to buy the compulsory logoed uniforms for him and his sister. I am helping as much as I can but I am a pensioner.

Well, school is a chance to shape minds - so, get kids used to community, equality, social well being and health. Make it feel like society cares for them, that it nourishes them in every sense.

No child should be hungry it will impact their learning, their mood and their future.

Every child should be entitled to free school meals we are all struggling whether we work or don’t. Working parents children should not be separated from the non working in this day and age.

I think every child should be given the chance of well balanced, wholesome hot meal at school regardless of whether they can afford it or not. It's important that a child receives at least one wholesome meal a day. Feed the child, feed the brain I say !!

Children deserve a good meal, it may be the only good meal children get a day. I have two daughters in high school and it is costly for school meals: one daughter gets free meals one doesnt