A recent poll reveals that the overwhelming majority of parents with primary school children in England, 89%, are in favor of extending free school meals to all primary school students. Among those surveyed, 57% believe that offering free hot lunches would positively impact their family’s financial situation. The survey also highlighted that 31% of parents have had to reduce the quantity and quality of their food purchases since the school year commenced in September.
Within this group, 64% have cut back on purchasing red meat, while 27% have decreased their purchases of cheese, eggs, or dairy products, and a similar percentage have limited their fresh vegetable intake. The Mirror, in collaboration with the National Education Union (NEU), has been a strong advocate for providing free school meals to all primary students.
In a significant development, free hot lunches will now be extended to all children in families receiving universal credit, benefiting over half a million children starting in September. However, the NEU cautions that means-testing may still leave some children and families without support.
The survey also revealed that 56% of parents not on universal credit believe that free school meals for all would positively impact their family finances, while 44% think it would benefit their mental wellbeing. Additionally, among parents not on universal credit, 28% are reducing the variety of their weekly food shopping, and 27% are cutting back on the quantity of their weekly food purchases. Furthermore, 16% of parents not receiving universal credit are being compelled to reduce or discontinue out-of-school activities.
Wales and London have already implemented free school meals for all primary school children. The government is now in the process of introducing free breakfast clubs for all primary school students and is planning to enforce new school lunch standards aimed at eliminating deep-fried foods and high-sugar items from school menus.
Despite these initiatives, unions and school leaders are advocating for a free midday meal to support children’s learning, wellbeing, and overall development, while also alleviating financial pressures on families. The NEU’s general secretary, Daniel Kebede, emphasized the importance of ensuring that no child is left behind in accessing free school meals.
Frank Young, CEO of ParentKind, highlighted the challenges many families face in preparing healthy packed lunches daily and expressed support for extending free school meals to all primary school children to alleviate parental pressures.
A spokesperson from the Department for Education emphasized the government’s commitment to reducing financial burdens on families through initiatives like funded childcare and free breakfast clubs. Notably, free school meals will now be available to all children from households claiming universal credit, aiming to lift thousands of children out of poverty and provide significant financial relief to families.
The government’s efforts, along with measures outlined in the Child Poverty Strategy, are projected to reduce child poverty significantly by the end of the parliamentary term. The survey conducted by YouGov for the NEU involved 2,106 parents with primary school-aged children in England between March 19 and 31.