Education South West CEO comments on the Government's scheme to extend free school meals

Any child in England whose parents receive Universal Credit will be able to claim free school meals from September 2026, the Government has said.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the move as "a down payment on child poverty", along with other measures that have already been rolled out.

Parents on the credit will be eligible regardless of their income. Currently, their household must earn less than £7,400 a year to qualify.

The government says the change will make 500,000 more pupils eligible, which the prime minister said would "help families who need it most".

Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West said: "I wholeheartedly welcome the decision to extend free school meals to all children from families receiving universal credit. At Education South West, we are committed to equity and inclusion, and this policy is a crucial step toward ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has the nourishment they need to thrive in school and beyond.

“We know that hungry children cannot learn effectively. This change will not only ease the financial pressure on families but will also help create a more inclusive, supportive learning environment across our schools. It is a powerful recognition that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, and that no child should be left behind because of circumstances beyond their control.”

Education South West is a trust of eight primary schools, four secondary schools, one all through school and a University Technical College all based in Devon.