6 h. ago The Guardian view on child poverty: free school meals are a help, but not a panacea | Editorial

Giving lunch to more pupils is a good move – but poor nutrition points to deeper problems that ministers must faceIt was Ellen Wilkinson, education minister in the Attlee government, who announced in 1946 that free school dinners would be introduced, along with free school milk, at the same time as child benefit. No doubt Rachel Reeves, who has a picture of Wilkinson on the wall of her office, is aware of this – and also that the Treasury subsequently decided the policy was unaffordable. The meals were subsidised instead.Despite these initial charges, and later price rises, poorer children did gain, and keep, an entitlement to free school meals. The announcement last week that this is being extended in England to all those whose parents or carers claim universal credit – rather than restricted to families with incomes lower than £7,400 – should be welcomed by all objectors to child poverty. Being assured of a hot lunch in the middle of the school day makes pupils’ lives be...

Politics

43 h. ago DWP text warning for PIP and Universal Credit claimants among potential targets

Millions of benefit claimants could be at risk of being targeted by malicious actors among a new warning from the DWP

Events

3 d. ago Team from Cumbernauld school celebrate winning Girls National Handball Championships

St Mary's Primary School recently installed a new Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) as part of a broader plan to replace old red blaes pitches across North Lanarkshire.

Culture

3 d. ago Eradicating child poverty must become Labour’s central mission

Editorial: After years when the party seemed to be undeclared disciples of austerity, the government’s conscience – prompted by some shocking electoral setbacks – has been awoken. For the country's sake, as well as its own, children must now be at the heart of everything it does, starting with free school meals

Events

3 d. ago Voices: Rachel Reeves: I saw first hand what the Tories did to kids of my generation

Conservative governments did not care about schools or communities like mine, says the chancellor, as she reveals her motivation behind Labour’s announcement to roll out free school meals for half a million children

Politics

3 d. ago Voices: Rachel Reeves: I saw firsthand what the Tories did to kids of my generation

Conservative governments did not care about schools like mine, communities like mine or the kids I grew up with, reflects Chancellor Rachel Reeves – as she reveals her very personal motivation behind Labour’s announcement to roll out free school meals for half a million of England’s poorest children

Politics

3 d. ago Should all children be given free school meals? Vote in our poll

Keir Starmer has announced plans to extend free school meals to all children in families receiving Universal Credit in England in a bid to tackle child hunger in the classroom - and we want to hear your thoughts

Politics

3 d. ago Starmer describes free school meal expansion as ‘down payment’ on child poverty

Ministers have announced plans to expand free school meals to all pupils in England in families on universal credit from September 2026.

Politics

3 d. ago DWP cuts could strip £100 weekly from thousands of Universal Credit claimants

The Department for Work and Pensions has launched a consultation on the new Green Paper

Economics

3 d. ago 'Thousands of children' in Manchester will benefit from major free school meal change

The changes will come into effect next year

Politics

3 d. ago 'Free school meals were a part of my childhood': Zayn Malik 'beyond elated' at reforms

The 32 year-old One Direction star has shared his joy at the news that free school meals will be expanded to children from households on Universal Credit

Politics

3 d. ago Handing free school meals to all children from households that claim Universal Credit WON'T drag 100,000 out of poverty next year, says IFS

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced that every pupil whose household is on Universal Credit will soon have an entitlement to free school meals.

Society

3 d. ago DWP proposals could see thousands of Universal Credit claimants lose almost £100 a week

The Government is consulting on plans to remove access to the Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity element of Universal Credit

Economics

3 d. ago New DWP warning to people on State Pension, PIP, Universal Credit and other benefits

DWP is urging people to watch out for fake text messages designed to steal personal and financial date.

Events

3 d. ago More than one in four pupils in England now eligible for free school meals

The figures come as the Government announced plans to expand free lunches to all pupils in families that claim universal credit from September 2026.

Politics

3 d. ago Winter fuel payments could be returned to ALL pensioners this year but some will repay it

The Treasury is reportedly looking at linking the payments to people's incomes instead of pension credit, which could mean the universal benefit is restored then recouped

Economics

3 d. ago Huge DWP Universal Credit boost as 500,000 more families qualify for new benefit

The free school meals move comes after campaigners and education leaders have called for it to be extended

Politics

4 d. ago Free school meals for half a million of England’s poorest children

The move, which comes after a major campaign by The Independent, said the expansion will lift 100,000 children across England out of poverty

Politics

4 d. ago Major change for families on Universal Credit announced as parents set to save £500 a year

The government has announced that hundreds of thousands more children will now be eligible for free school meals

Society

4 d. ago All pupils in families on universal credit to be entitled to free school meals

The move comes after campaigners and education leaders called for an extension to ease pressures on young people living in poverty.

Politics