Young teenage girl who is looking at the options for her lunch in the school she goes to in the North East of England. There is plenty of choice of fresh fruit and snacks to choose from in the chiller cabinet. Photo Credit: SolStock/Getty Images
Society EnglandFree School Meals Reach 500,000 More Children
Around 500,000 more children can now receive free school meals in England, helping families manage food costs while supporting children’s health and learning.
“Expanding Free School Meals will make a real difference to families who have been facing difficult choices,” says Yusuf, Food Foundation Food Ambassador.
Eligibility has been extended to children from all families receiving Universal Credit, widening access to a nutritional safety net after seven years of campaigning. Planned updates to school food standards could further improve meals by increasing vegetables, wholegrains and fibre-rich proteins while limiting foods high in fat, sugar and salt, with updated standards and measures to monitor compliance expected by the end of September.
