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Free school meals extended

20 replies

Danikm151 · 05/06/2025 06:51

Unsure if others have posted about this.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdr5mr5l2d1o

Free school meals to be extended to all on UC regardless of income. This will help so many working parents. The £7,400 threshold was shockingly low.
I’ve been worried about paying for school meals after key stage 1 ends so this is good news today.

Several primary school pupils sit at a canteen table eating a meal. They are all wearing white uniform polo shirts and are smiling at one another. Alongside the food in front of them are multi-coloured drinking cups and a jug.

Free school meal rule change to make 500,000 more pupils eligible

Charities have broadly welcomed the plans, saying they hope it is a sign of more to come.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdr5mr5l2d1o

OP posts:
dontcomeatme · 05/06/2025 06:58

This is amazing news 🥳

TwoFeralKids · 05/06/2025 07:28

This is great. Means those who are working but need UC can benefit too. Luckily ours are only £1.50 a day but still about £30/40 a month.

socialmediaissues · 05/06/2025 07:30

Hopefully next they’ll lift the 2 child limit on the child element of UC. Really lift people out of poverty . The extension of FSM is a start but more needs to be done.

Danikm151 · 05/06/2025 07:39

@TwoFeralKids that £30/£40 a month can build up over a few years though.

OP posts:
xyzandabc · 05/06/2025 07:43

But not until Sept 2026

TwoFeralKids · 05/06/2025 08:01

Danikm151 · 05/06/2025 07:39

@TwoFeralKids that £30/£40 a month can build up over a few years though.

Yep. Then I have a second starting school next year.

TwoFeralKids · 05/06/2025 08:03

xyzandabc · 05/06/2025 07:43

But not until Sept 2026

Not sure why it can't be this September.

Danikm151 · 05/06/2025 08:37

Probably a lot of admin that will be needed to implement- adjusting of school budgets etc.
Then again, having it for all who qualify for UC may remove a lot of the admin. Rather than having to do the income checks via HMRC it will be a quick check via DWP.

OP posts:
TwoFeralKids · 05/06/2025 09:30

Danikm151 · 05/06/2025 08:37

Probably a lot of admin that will be needed to implement- adjusting of school budgets etc.
Then again, having it for all who qualify for UC may remove a lot of the admin. Rather than having to do the income checks via HMRC it will be a quick check via DWP.

Yes. I did say to my husband they should extend it to all parents on UC.

AnneLovesGilbert · 05/06/2025 09:33

This isn’t fully funded though is it, schools will have to find some of the money from existing budgets.

TwoFeralKids · 05/06/2025 09:36

I imagine it is the council isn't it? It needs to be changed though.

cadburyegg · 05/06/2025 10:00

I am so relieved to hear this. My ex is unreliable at best with maintenance so I am constantly having to juggle finances. I only get a small amount of UC but by the time this comes in I will have two children in KS2 so knowing the meals will be covered is so helpful.

My eldest will be going to secondary in September 2026, it looks like the money gets added to their account automatically. Does anyone know if I will be able to top up the money?

MisunderstoodMe · 06/06/2025 11:22

I'm really pleased to hear this, with 3 children it will help us substantially. I hope they get the same pupil premium so they will be able to go on school trips now, something i cant usually afford. Also HAF in the school holidays. I have heard a lot of hate about the fsm and backlash about people saying it's unfair to have children to can't afford. But circumstances change, I could affod to have children when I had them and had I stayed with my abusive husband I wouldn't have to claim UC. Nothing is ever black and white in this world.

Danikm151 · 06/06/2025 12:14

@MisunderstoodMe nothing in the news about this being pupil premium too but the help for parents makes a big difference.
The £40+ saved a month could go towards the cost of a school trip or something else sacrificed to pay for school meals.

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 07/06/2025 09:14

Def be helpful. Mine are over £50 a month for one dc in yr 3

will be def happen and also for secondary school ?

Mumdiva99 · 07/06/2025 13:21

It says in the news these children will not be entitled to PP - only FSM.

Blondeshavemorefun · 07/06/2025 21:17

Tbh I’m not sure what kids /parents get on pp. just be nice to save £50 a month on meals

Danikm151 · 07/06/2025 22:21

@Blondeshavemorefun definitely! £50 a month can go a long way

OP posts:
Nectarines · 07/06/2025 22:31

This will be excellent if properly funded. At the moment though, FSM is at a cost to school.
in my LA, school are billed around 80p more per meal than the funding pays. So we subside each free meal, including universal free meals for reception to year 2. If fully funded and no impact on school budgets then great but if not, school budgets will be cut even further.
This is of course no fault of the families claiming FSM but is another constraint on ridiculously underfunded schools.

DB2025 · 15/10/2025 14:54

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