As a community credit union rooted in the North East of England — a region where child poverty rates remain among the highest in the country — we strongly support the campaign for free school meals for all children in England. Every day, we see the financial pressure faced by working families who are doing their best but are still struggling with rising living costs. Ensuring all children have access to a nutritious meal at school is a simple, practical step that supports children’s health, wellbeing and ability to learn, while also easing pressure on household budgets. Universal free school meals remove stigma, promote equality, and represent a long-term investment in our children, our communities, and our future economy. As a not-for-profit organisation committed to financial inclusion and tackling poverty at its roots, we believe this policy aligns closely with our mission and values.

I want to live in a world where no one goes hungry, there is enough food and resource to feed every child across the world if it wasn't for uneven distribution. We can be an example to the world.

I am a pensioner and my orphaned grandson William lives with me and my husband who is also a pensioner. Before she died 5 years ago his mum received benefits as she was terminally ill, therefore William received free school meals. As kinship carers and legal guardians of William we cannot claim any benefits at all because we receive our full pension and a small private pension, therefore William is not entitled to free school meals. However I believe that in certain areas of the country eg. Newcastle, kinship carers receive a payment similar to foster carers and therefore do receive free school meals! This is an postcode lottery!

Free school means for our child would be so beneficial. As a family we do not claim universal credit but are by no means "well off" and the costs we are now paying for our child to have a hot meal is around £60 per month on top of other school fees, wrapround care, trips and lesson contributions. Not to mention other house hold bills rising too. That £60 per month equates to around £600 per year, that is a hige amount of money for parents who are financially struggling. It is proven that children focus and learn better when they have hot healthy food to eat and sharing that experience and socialising with their peers is the foundation for health relationships.

Disabled children who have to be on a special diet are being forgotten again - they have to take own food/drink into school but are not reimbursed.

Please let all children have healthy food! I see so much junk food in pack lunches, all children shouldn’t become addicted to sugar and salt just because our shops make it easier to buy these. It’s unfair on children and parents . These small bodies are irreplaceable, they have one and it should be as healthy as possible.

Just because a family ‘on paper’ has above a certain salary, you don’t know the full picture or story of their lives. Meals should be free for all children to ensure the best start in life and to ensure they are ready to learn. There is money for so many other things - our children should be priority.

I want to see our children achieve and access social mobility through achievement.

Back in the 60s and 70s my Mum was a school meals supervisor. I remember that every month she had to plan the next months meals, this included a detailed count of calories, proteins, carbs and a whole range of other item which the authorities would then assess had the required elements to give each child the opportunity to have at least one meal a day that was nutritious and fulfilling. It’s strikes me as a travesty today that this service is viewed as an archaic and peculiar procedure. A hungry child will not learn much at school: we knew this then but have ignored this fact for decades. We will all pay a heavy price for this ignorance. Get all children fed NOW before it’s too late. (From an ex teacher).

Cost of living has increased alot and the price of lunchboxes for two kids is so much. It would take the stress of families and households.

It is so important that all children get free school meals. It not only helps the children live better, be stronger and therefore learn better but it also takes pressure off families

I was a hungry child in the 1950's. I had hoped by now - no child should be going hungry. No-one can learn with an empty stomach - By feeding all school children none would fall through the system.

Because it might be the only meal a child gets in a day. So many are struggling with no food, how can children learn when they are hungry?

My children are still quite fussy so sending them in with a packed lunch will be very difficult and costly since there are restrictions on what they can take

Because it is hard for parents to pay their school dinners even if they are working....

Cost of living is crazy this would take the pressure off so many families so they would have money for other things that they don’t at the minute. It will be so much less pressure on me as a mum and help me save vital money. 

For some families, the cost of food, energy, rent and everything else that comes with raising children has become incredibly difficult to manage. Parents are doing everything they can to make ends meet, but sometimes there simply isn’t enough money left over. Now imagine the relief of a parent knowing that, whatever happens at home financially, their child will have a healthy and filling meal at school. They know their child won’t be sitting in the afternoon feeling hungry. They know they’ve had something nutritious to eat, and they can concentrate on learning, playing and being with their friends.

Hello Prime Minister,I'm 85 and can remember the subsidised school meals, from the labour Government right after the Second World War. Paid for by everyone paying their fair share of tax. Them with the broadest shoulders paying their fair share of tax. There are plenty of broad shoulders in our country today. Lets have the meals on the table for our youth.

With the cost of living still so high, household budgets are tight for many families, and every additional expense can make a difference. Our child currently receives a free school meal, but this support will end next year as he moves into Year 3, and we are concerned about the financial pressure that will bring. We want to ensure he continues to have access to a healthy, nutritious lunch every school day without having to make difficult choices elsewhere in our household budget. Extending free school meals to every child in primary school would provide valuable support to families, ensure every child has access to a nutritious meal, and give them the energy they need to learn and thrive at school.

We don't qualify for free school meals and it is a real struggle to pay for food for our two children. They both have coeliac disease so can only eat gluten free food, which makes it more expensive for the basics of bread and cereal. Free school meals would take such a weight off for us and help our grocery budget stretch a little further.

It would combat the abuse and discrimination I experienced as a child sent to school in patched jumble sale clothing and in receipt of free school meals. Always felt tongue-tied and looked down upon by teachers and children 'fortunate' to live with with both parents and not seriously physically attacked in the home (prefab) by the lone 'parent.'

Every child in education should be provided a free school meal. As this could be the only healthy meal some children get. May it be primary or secondary school. As a carer I personally know how hard it is in my community for some children.

I taught in London in the 1970s and saw the lethargy and behavioural issues hunger brought on. I kept a large bag of apples in the store cupboard in my classroom. Now, as a grandparent, I am ashamed that we still have hungry children in our schools. Our future generations need brain food to partake intelligently in this turbulent world.

This might be a child's only hot meal for the day. Some parents don't want to admit they are struggling parents and will try and cope. By providing a free school meal to every child this will allow parents to provide a better quality meal in the evening.

All children should be allowed free school dinners. Just because you’re not on benefits does not mean you are not struggling .

With the cost of living crisis 2 working parents are living from pay check to pay check, month to month. It is not affordable. This country penalises working people

I work in a primary school kitchen so I know first hand that ALL kids should get a free school meal. Parents/kids shouldn’t be penalised for working and not qualifying for them.

It will make a big difference to children in school, learning and attending

There are families who can not afford food or electricity at home. Food at school shouldn’t be something they should worry about.

Me and my husband are kinship carers. We have taken my husband’s granddaughter in. We had retired but gone back to work and have to pay for school dinners along with everything else that a 7 year old needs, money is tight and that’s the reason we have both had to go back to work.

To ensure every child has the option to have a free school meal as everything is so expensive these days!

As a parent and teacher in Harpurhey, one of the most deprived areas in the country, I can honestly say that that free school meal would often be the only proper meal these children will get and it’s so vital to their development. Please help us feed those children and take the pressure off for struggling parents. I’m begging you 🙏

Free school meals should be available for all children, not just for infants. It makes no sense. Why should children aged 4-7 be entitled to free school meals but children 7+ aren’t. It’s putting extra pressure on parents to find at least £2.70 a day. It might sound like nothing but £2.70 a day is £54 a month extra on school dinners. No child should be left out.

I think this day and age with the cost of food gas etc plenty children will not get enough food to nourish them. Heat or eat - the cost of living is sky high. And children should get the best so they grow into confident people. Plenty will be going school hungry and that might be the only meal. Surely the Government can do something for our children.

Cost of living keeps going up and packed lunches don't give my child the nutrients that she need. My child needs a freshly hot cooked meal and to join the rest of her friends who have school meals but instead the school don't allow packed lunch and school meal children sit next to each other which separates the children into groups and this not good for their social development either.

No child in the UK should sit in a classroom hungry — yet this is the reality for thousands of families today. Free School Meals for All is a simple, powerful policy that ensures every child has the nutrition they need to learn, grow, and thrive. Hunger holds children back. It affects concentration, behaviour, attendance, and emotional wellbeing. Teachers see this every day. Universal Free School Meals remove the stigma, remove the bureaucracy, and remove the barriers that stop children from reaching their potential. This is not just a food policy — it is an education policy, a health policy, and an anti‑poverty policy. When every child receives a nutritious meal, schools become fairer, families feel supported, and communities grow stronger. Universal provision is proven to boost attainment, improve wellbeing, and ease the pressure on households already stretched by rising living costs. We are calling on the Government to act now. Free School Meals for All is a practical, compassionate step that will transform children’s lives. No child should be left behind because of hunger. The time for universal provision is now.

I have 3 under 5, so in Northern Ireland its 3.10 per day for a primary dinner £15.5 per week per child, so once my younger 2 start school I won't be able to afford to let them take dinners, and its a shame as I know they have had a hot meal and it takes the stress off food at home.

The British Dietetic Association (BDA) is calling on Government to extend free school meals to every primary school child because good nutrition is fundamental to children’s health, development and ability to learn. With around a third of a child’s weekday meals potentially eaten at school, the food provided in schools has an important role to play in shaping children’s diets and supporting their health and development. School meals are one of the most significant opportunities we have to improve children’s diets, tackle food insecurity and reduce health inequalities. Universal provision would ensure that every child can access a nutritious meal, regardless of their family’s income, while reducing stigma and supporting children to learn and thrive. The BDA believes that access and quality must go hand in hand. Free school meals should be nutritious, inclusive and based on current evidence, with schools supported through a wider Whole School Food Approach that puts food, nutrition and sustainability at the heart of school life. Appropriate investment in catering facilities, the workforce and dietetic expertise is also essential to make this work effectively. We are supporting this campaign because every child deserves the opportunity to eat well, learn and thrive. A nutritious school meal should be a guaranteed part of the school day, not something that depends on household income. Universal provision is an investment in children’s health now and in their future health.

Every child should be given free school dinners. No matter what the background it makes it an even playing field at school

I work in a school and I think all children should receive free school meals. Doesn’t matter what year there in or how old they are to claim free… they're ALL still children. Think it’s about time now government treat them all equal.

We all deserve free dinners for our kids.

It's just common sense in these hard times

I came from a one parent household so I was entitled to free school dinners beginning at junior school,all the way through my senior years and to tell you the truth they were a godsend to both myself and my mum. Sometimes I remember how my mum would wait until both my sister and I had finished eating dinner and she would eat whatever we left. So free school meals were the only guaranteed decent meal I would have all day.

I am a disabled parent, I use a wheelchair. I try to remain in work and provide for our family. My husband also works at the local hospital. We only get child benefit, however we have little disposable income. Free meals for our children would be a huge help, both financially and physically, I currently have to make a packed lunch for our children.

It is significant costs to a working family to pay for before and after school clubs just to have the luxury to remain in employment. Then there are the ridiculous 6-7 week school holidays and other term time holidays where we need to pay £100+ per week per child just to be able to stay in work. For some families that cost alone is equivalent to a months rent. And then school meals on top. I’d rather not have child benefit but have school meals paid for. I’d rather not have child benefit but have school start earlier without a cost. I’d rather not have child benefit and have a 4 week summer holiday rather than a 7 week one. It is absolutely insane how the government is expecting people to work but the education system is not aligned to the employment system to support working families.

Every child needs a free meal. Food is fuel also there is parents out there struggling to pay costs for school dinners also a hot meal is more important than a packed lunch more satisfying and nourishing

I would love to see the return of the one bottle of milk in junior school, that was always something to look forward too mid morning

Every child should be entitled to a free school meal, not just parents on benefits.

As a 39 year old who parents always worked. My family were never entitled to free school meals. As a parent myself, we have 3 children in primary education that also are entitled to free school meals. Nor the help with uniforms or any other form of help through the government. "Because we work" is an awful excuse to give a child when they ask why their friends go to dinners every day and they have lunches! Stop making our children different. Should be part of the school education a healthy HOT school meal for every child.

My son and his partner are both in employment they have four children three still in primary school and can’t afford school meals. They are on minimum wage and due to the cost of living crisis can no longer afford a hot meal for the kids.

All children should be entitled to a hot meal regardless of background.

Free school meals saved us three kids in the 50s and 60s as our Mum was left with two daughters and a newborn son. We all flourished at school each one of us had a professional job as a social worker, a nurse and an architect. That meal at school was the only one we got in the day and we even had provision to go into a local school for lunch during the school holidays. It was a no brainer. Affordable then so should be affordable now.

Back in 1960’s Sunderland children had healthy (2 course) meals and milk every day. Poor families had the opportunity of sending their children to a Saturday lunch). Reinstate this level of support for families and their children.

All of us need good nutrition, children all the more so. I've worked in various types of school, but in each one of them, it soon shows when a child is not getting enough food.

At Cook Stars Chester we believe every child should have access to nutritious food- no matter their background. Food is essential to fuel growing bodies and minds. Getting through a school day hungry prevents learning and this is unacceptable! Free school meals for all would help provide more equal opportunities for all children.

All children should recieve a hot dinner

As Kinship carers who stepped up to raise children, due to means testing on savings and pensions. No we won't be eligible for free school meals for the children. Saved for our retirement and watching it be stripped away.

Every child deserves a good meal every day whilst in school. Look after the future. Regardless of the income of parents. Those not on benefits should have the option to donate to school charity if they want.

Children rely on school meals and a nourished child is far more capable of engaging.

No child should sit in a classroom hungry. Yet today, children are going without a hot meal simply because of their parents’ income, employment or immigration status. This is wrong, and it must change. I work in a primary school as a support staff/teaching assistant with an SEN child. I see every day how a school meal can lift a child’s mood, calm their behaviour and help them learn. A full stomach gives a child dignity, confidence and the chance to thrive. I am also a working parent with three children. Because of my immigration status and NRPF, my children—including my British child—are shut out of support other families receive. School meals cost us around £270 per term. For families like mine, that is a heavy, painful choice between bills, food and basic stability. We work. We contribute. Yet our children are left behind. NRPF rules trap families in hardship, where even a simple school meal becomes out of reach. Universal free school meals would change everything. It would guarantee every child a hot, healthy meal. It would remove stigma. It would lift pressure from working families who fall through the cracks. And it would put children first—where they belong. No child should be punished for their parents’ circumstances. A child’s access to food should never depend on immigration status. Every child deserves to be fed, supported and ready to learn.

Children who are hungry may struggle to concentrate, participate and stay engaged in lessons. A reliable school meal can help children start the afternoon ready to learn.

Free school meals would mean that no child feels embarrassed because they cannot afford lunch. Everyone would be treated equally, and children could sit together and enjoy their meals without worrying about who has paid. In conclusion, free school meals would help children stay healthy, learn better and feel included. School should be a place where every child has the same opportunities, and free school meals would be an important step towards making this happen.

As a parent who isn't entitled to universal credit but still struggles daily with the mortage and bills I believe my child should recieve free school meals too!

Everyone getting a free school meal would be a massive equaliser, no more shame and no more packed lunch issues: allergies, unhealthy or incomplete meals: every child getting a nutritious, hot meal which allows them to learn, play and thrive.

The difference between a child who has access to a good lunch and a child who hasn’t is noticeable, academically, socially and physically.

Ultimately we are part of a system where working parents are at the mercy of local services for childcare and extra curricular activities. We send our children to school, it is not free, we all pay for it through our taxes. Why is it that we have to pay for lunch when this is an essential need for our children whilst learning and in the care of the school. I think we should go the extra mile and include this for secondary schools too. That fact that we have children going hungry in 2026 is a disgrace to this country.

For families, extending free school meals to every primary school child would be valuable financial support, particularly with the rising cost of food and household bills. It would take away some of the financial pressure of providing packed lunches or paying for school meals every day. It would also give parents peace of mind knowing their children are receiving a healthy, nutritious meal at school, while ensuring that no child feels different or excluded because of their family’s financial situation.

Too many children have aching empty bellies which means they cannot learn properly or settle in class due to hunger! Every child deserves a full belly not just a few which means we will have better behaviour, learning, development and happy smiles all so important!

Parent of four children. Work hard. No benefits. Not fair.

It is incomprehensible for parents and teachers of disabled children that a child gets a free school meal till they are in our primary department and as soon as they become a secondary age child, their parents have to pay. Is lunch optional at age 11 but essential at age 10? Preposterous!

Research shows that all children need breakfast lunch tea and dinner. They learn better. Their mood is better. They grow healthier. Sadly many parents cannot afford regular healthy meals. School could provide healthy nutritious foods. Government should concentrate on the future of our children.

I’m a catering supervisor and I see on a daily basis just how many children don’t get a hot and healthy lunch The children who have a packed lunch don’t always have a lot in it I strongly believe all children from 3 to 18 should have a hot lunch provided daily and especially now as everything is so expensive

Free school meals for every primary school child would reduce financial pressure on families and ensure every child has access to a healthy meal and an equal opportunity to learn.

All children should get a free hot meal in school for some children this is their only hot meal a day and with having triplets the price of dinner very week is crippling

Other places in the country already do this so why can’t we all be the same. It is a struggle and the expense of getting everything for a packed lunch. It would be less of a worry for all children to have a hot meal..

Too many school staff are having to dip into their own pockets or a deficit budget to ensure children, who don’t meet the criteria for FSM because their parents are earning but are barely above the poverty line, have a lunch each day.

Just help children learn and thrive

I am a parent of 3 grown up schoolchildren and was a learning support teacher at their senior school for four years. I was shocked to find some of those children who were most in need of help by my department often never had a decent meal, or came to school not having eaten or enough money to buy a sensible lunch. They rarely hydrated with water as there were only one or two functioning drinking fountains in a massive school of 3,000 pupils (13 classes of years 7-13). This was shocking 😮 and unacceptable.

School dinners are important for children so they have something to eat

Getting all children to experience a wide range of freshly cooked, healthy meals is a basic thing which some families don’t or are not able to provide - school is a place where this should absolutely be happening, And imagine the reduction in food and packaging waste!

At the school where I work we now have mandatory school meals, no packed lunches at all and this works a lot better than before when more children had packed lunches and mainly only those on low income who received free school meals had a school meal This caused a lot of stigma to those having school meals and a lot of competitiveness amongst those with packed lunches. We often had instances of children stealing other children’s lunch items as well as children bringing nuts in their packed lunch and children were often close to tears because they didn’t have what other children had. With the mandatory school meals there is an amazing menu with at least three meal options every day, fresh fruit and salad and everyone is equal and happy at lunchtime.

Hungry children cannot apply the basic principles required for learning. Basic needs must be accounted for in full funding and provision for education.

I live in Wales so my kids get free school meals, but I believe all kids should!!

Hungry children cannot learn; we already have teachers paying out of their own pocket so that schoolchildren can at least have breakfast at the start of the day. Healthy school dinners mean the children eat together, learn better, and get used to eating good food. In addition, we face the shameful consequence that undernourished children do not develop cognitive capacities as fast as those who are properly fed (and that is bad for our whole society, not just our economy), that they are at far greater risk of the early onset of chronic conditions, and that their lives, let alone their healthy lives, are almost certain to be shorter than those of better-fed children.

Children can't learn when they're hungry. There is shame and stigma attached to admitting they're not being given lunch. Too many are suffering. School dinners are a disgrace also.

Me and my husband work full time and have a mortgage to pay and having free school meals would really help us out.

Children should have free school meals for the whole of primary school

No child should go hungry in this day and age. It seems more and more families are struggling and it shouldn’t be a lucky dip as to which children get to eat and who doesn’t. It’s a basic right. Do the right thing please.

Financial pressures are becoming an increasingly common worry for families across the UK. No child should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from, especially during the school day. Ensuring children have access to a nutritious meal at school can make a real difference to their wellbeing, concentration and ability to learn. Extending free school meals is an important step towards supporting families, reducing inequality and ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their circumstances.

There is no question more children that should be are trying to learn while hungry. Poverty and child poverty are on the increase and it's getting worse as a result of events across the world. To see children going without even basic food needs because hard working - yes hard working - parents can't make ends meet is heart breaking. We see it all the time in school. One big help would be a further increase in free school meals

I think free meals would be great so everyone is treated equally. It will also help a lot of parents with lower income and during the school holidays a lot of parents spend vast amounts on food and activities which isn’t a issue as parents just want their child to have the best and more.

I had free school meals after my dad’s accident .

Imagine being a child who comes to school hungry, knowing your family can't afford much food that week. You sit in class trying to concentrate, but your stomach is empty. Free school meals can change that. They give children a nutritious meal, help them concentrate and learn, and take financial pressure off struggling families. A child shouldn't miss out on a healthy lunch simply because their parents earn slightly too much to qualify. Every child deserves to eat, learn and have the same chance in life regardless of their parents' income. That's why the UK Government should extend free school meals.

Every child at every age should have the option to have school dinners as everything is only getting more and more expensive and too many families are struggling. No child should go without a proper nutritious meal and we have the funds, the government just isn't giving enough money and support to schools, teachers or kids and that is the failure of our govt. Please do not let a child miss out on meals due to living in such poverty.

It shouldn’t just cover primary school, it should cover every child in school. As an educator, you never know if these children are going home to have food or not, by offering them a hot meal at least once a day you know that these children have been fed.

Over the last 45 years as a teacher I’ve seen the benefits of breakfast clubs in School and how much easier it is for children to learn if they are well fed. Meals in my own school & support for bright healthy children in the afternoon make for better learning and a great help to parents who struggle.

Children in all schools including primary and secondary should be entitled to free school meals and should not be means tested. With the cost of living on the rise, this school meal becomes expensive when you have more than one child. It should be fairly available to all parents not just those on benefits, at least that is one less thing to worry about for a working parent!

In this day and age no child should be hungry at school

It’s so much less stressful knowing my child has a hot nutritious meal every day. It has helped my child with SEN to have more structure and routine, rather than only having school dinners occasionally, when we can afford it. She is eating better than ever too, despite her sensory preferences around food.

Children face the same challenges at home whether they are 2, 4, 8, 12 or 16 and you could argue that in their teenage years they need it more as they go through puberty and sit their GCSE's. As a school business manager, this is a conversation I've been having with our LA for the last 14 or 15 years after they decided to introduce free breakfast for all primary children. Do we not need a broader scope?