Responding to the government's decision to extend free school meals to all pupils in households in receipt of universal credit from September 2026, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“NAHT has long called for the expansion of free school meals to all children in households entitled to universal credit, so this is a very welcome move by the government.

“No child should ever have to go hungry due to their parents’ financial circumstances. Hunger affects not only children’s health and wellbeing but also their readiness to learn, and the existing very low income cap for free school meals means many children living in poverty are ineligible.

“As well as this expansion to eligibility, we would also like the government to introduce auto-enrolment so no child entitled to a free meal misses out.

“School leaders have reported spending more and time supporting pupils and families with the impact of poverty in recent years and being unable to enjoy a nutritious meal is just one of the consequences impacting children’s education.

“Issues like unstable housing, visits by bailiffs, and the ability to afford school uniform and transport costs also affect children’s ability to attend school and focus in the classroom.

“It’s vital that this positive extension of free school meals is backed up by other tangible measures which help lift even more children out of poverty when the government’s child poverty taskforce reports back later this year.”