Free School Meals for All

Dear Prime Minister,

Child hunger is an epidemic in our schools.

Last year, over 3.7 million children experienced food insecurity - not having access to nutritious and balanced meals, or even having to skip meals entirely. 

One in five schools in England is now running a food hub or pantry to support pupils and their families.

We are writing to urge you to extend Free School Meal provision to every primary school child in England.

Free School Meals for every primary school child will put money back in parents’ pockets. That’s money they can use to pay for other essentials for their children, from heating and food at home to hobbies and after-school clubs.

Teachers and support staff see the difference a hot, healthy school dinner makes. When children are hungry, they can’t learn. It’s hard for them to concentrate and harder for them to reach their potential. Free School Meals for all would mean every child can succeed.

For the first three years of school, every child in England gets a hot school dinner – and no child under seven wants for food while they're at school.

But from Year 3 on, millions of children as young as 7 miss out on a healthy meal at school.

The call to extend Free School Meals for All is loud and growing. Over 300 organisations across civil society — including public health experts, trade unions, faith leaders and public figures — agree that a good education stretches from the classroom to the canteen.

Wales was the first nation in the UK to deliver Free School Meals for All. Scotland has rolled this out for pupils up to age 9. London has extended this for every child in primary school for good.

It is time for England to catch up.

Already, we’re seeing the benefits of hot school dinners on primary school pupils in London. The scheme has led to improvements in pupils’ reading skills and health.

Free School Meals for All will ensure all children can flourish and no child is left behind.

Prime Minister, will you commit to extending Free School Meals to every child in primary school in this Parliament?

Yours sincerely,‍‍