Health experts call for free school meals in England

Government says over £1 billion is spent on free school meals annually, but expanding the scheme would see this rise to approximately £2.5 billion

Free school meals should be available for every pupil in England’s primary and secondary schools to combat food poverty and poor nutrition among children and young people, says a coalition of leading health experts.

The Health of the Next Generation – Good Food for Children explored the advantages of expanding access to the Free School Meal Programme, the National School Breakfast Programme, and the Healthy Start Voucher scheme, and proposed free school meals for every school child in England.

Currently, children in Key Stage 1 (aged between 5-7) are eligible, with families on certain benefits or very low incomes eligible at other Key Stages. Children in some areas, like London, have universal free school meals throughout primary, or primary and secondary school.

The report, led by The Faculty of Public Health (FPH), with The Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) and The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, says it is “unacceptable” that over a quarter of households with children experience food insecurity. It warned increased levels of ill-health among the most vulnerable children will likely persist into adulthood without urgent action.

Professor Kevin Fenton, President of FPH said, “As a broad coalition of public health and medical professionals we are deeply concerned about the long-term health impacts facing our nation’s children as vulnerable families across the UK struggle to access nutritious food.

“By providing universal access to Free School Meals and expanding access to other existing programmes, our leaders in Parliament have the opportunity to support a generation of children to lead healthy, happy, and productive lives,” said Fenton. “We face a critical turning point for the health of our next generation – we must take action now.”

“As a society, we need to carefully consider any option that leads to better healthcare outcomes and reduces the burden on the NHS.”

Professor Maggie Rae CBE, President of RSM’s Epidemiology & Public Health Section agreed: “Good nutrition is essential for children’s health. It’s linked to stronger immune systems, lower risk of diabetes and heart disease, and increased life expectancy. Nourished children also perform better academically, influencing their life chances and benefitting society.

Rae added, “Adequate nutrition should be seen as a preventative health measure. It improves lives and narrows persistent health inequalities. As a society, we need to carefully consider any option that leads to better healthcare outcomes and reduces the burden on the NHS.”

Dan Paskins, Director of UK Impact at Save the Children UK said: "Far too many children in the UK are missing out on free school meals. It's shocking that household income in England must be less than £7,400 a year for a child to qualify and this needs urgent reform. The Faculty of Public Health's report is right to suggest there needs to be an expansion in provision considering the sheer scale of children living in poverty in the UK."

The government says a balance is required to ensure school meals are available to those in need, while remaining affordable and deliverable. Over £1 billion is spent on free school meals annually, but expanding the scheme would see this rise to approximately £2.5 billion, according to the report.

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