The UK government has announced a significant expansion of the free school meals programme, set to benefit around 500,000 additional children in England. Under the new rules, all children in families receiving Universal Credit will become eligible for a free school lunch.
Currently, free school meals are only available beyond Year 2 to pupils in households earning less than £7,400 annually, excluding benefits. This policy update marks the most substantial reform of the eligibility threshold in more than a decade, and it has been framed by the Prime Minister as a key step in tackling child poverty.
Targeted Support in Greater Manchester and Beyond
Greater Manchester is one of the regions where the policy’s impact will be most visible. According to official government estimates, 228,360 children across the metropolitan area will become newly eligible for free school meals from September 2026.
The constituency with the highest number of beneficiaries will be Bolton South and Walkden, where 14,870 children are expected to qualify. Other highly affected constituencies include Blackley and Middleton South with 14,110 eligible pupils, and Gorton and Denton, where 12,960 children will receive free lunches.
These figures are based on the number of children currently living in households that claim Universal Credit, excluding infants who already receive meals through nursery provisions. The estimates stem from the most recent data published in November and reflect the Government’s effort to align child welfare initiatives with up-to-date socioeconomic realities.
Addressing Child Hunger as Part of Wider Poverty Strategy
The move has been widely welcomed by educational leaders and anti-poverty campaigners. Writing in The Mirror, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the decision as “a down payment on what I want to do in relation to child poverty.”
He added, “It’s common sense that children can’t do well at school if they’re hungry.”
The policy forms part of a broader government package aimed at alleviating the effects of rising living costs on vulnerable families.
This includes the introduction of breakfast clubs, aiming to support children from the start of the school day. According to Paul Whiteman, General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT),
“No child should ever have to go hungry due to their parents’ financial circumstances.”
While the government’s announcement has received widespread support, education professionals stress the importance of effective rollout and communication at the local level to ensure families are aware of their entitlements. The changes are scheduled to take effect in September 2026, subject to the ongoing availability of updated constituency-level data and school coordination mechanisms.