THE expansion of free school meals to all pupils in England whose families are on universal credit was welcomed today as a first step towards making them available to all.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the change, which takes effect in September next year, as a “down payment on child poverty” when asked whether he would go further and axe the two-child benefit cap that experts say is another key driver of child poverty.

He said the announcement was part of a broader package of provisions also including breakfast clubs, with the government’s child poverty taskforce due to publish its strategy later this year.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson pledged that the free school meals extension would be funded and that the government would “make sure that schools have what they need to deliver this.”

National Education Union general secretary Daniel Kebede welcomed “this necessary and overdue first step in expanding free school meals eligibility,” but he warned that “the ongoing cost-of-living crisis means that many children in families who just miss out on being eligible for universal credit will also miss out on a hot, healthy school meal. 

“As teachers, our members know the positive impact of children eating and learning together — how it breaks down stigma and inequality and ensures greater community cohesion. 

“Ensuring that a free school meal is available to all children is the next urgent step that must be taken.”

Currently, households in England receiving universal credit must earn below £7,400 a year after tax, not including income from benefits, to qualify for free school meals.

The expansion of free school meals will make 500,000 more children eligible for them during the school day, said the government.

Department for Education figures show that more than one in four pupils in England are now eligible for free school meals, after the total rose by 77,000 in a year to 2.17 million children in January.

Sutton Trust chief executive Nick Harrison said: “This is a significant step towards taking hunger out of the classroom.”

Kate Anstey of the Child Poverty Action Group charity said: “This is fantastic news and a gamechanger for children and families.”

The Local Government Association called for the introduction of automatic enrolment, using existing government data, “to capture all those who are entitled to free school meals.”