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500,000 More Children in England to Be Eligible for Free School Meals
- On June 5, 2025, the government revealed that starting September 2026, an additional 500,000 children in England whose families receive Universal Credit will qualify to receive free meals at school.
- The expansion responds to appeals from regional child poverty advocates and others to provide free school meals to every child in households receiving Universal Credit.
- The change removes the previous income threshold of £7,400 per year, enabling more families in poverty and low-paid work to access free meals and support.
- The Department for Education expects over half a million children to benefit daily, saving families nearly £500 annually and lifting 100,000 children out of poverty.
- The expansion is included within the government’s broader Plan for Change and has been positively received by campaigners, who view it as an important measure to help reduce child poverty and enhance educational outcomes.
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Keir Starmer vows to attack child poverty crisis after free school meals boost - The Mirror
Keir Starmer said expanding free school meals to more than half a million more pupils next year was a 'down payment' on the Governments plans to drive down child poverty
·London, United Kingdom
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Thurrock Gazette+3 Reposted by 3 other sources
In pictures: Prime Minister serves up school dinners as he visits Essex school
The Government will provide free, nutritious meals to over half a million more children across England starting from the 2026 school year next…
·Essex, United Kingdom
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Total News Sources70
Leaning Left7Leaning Right5Center31Last UpdatedBias Distribution72% Center
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C 72%
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