LACA chair reacts to 3p increase in UIFSM funding in England
The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that the meal rate for both Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) and Further Education Free Meals (FEFM) will increase from £2.58 to £2.61 for the academic year 2025-26.
The updated FE Free Meals guidance and the UIFSM Conditions of Grant document for 2025/26 will be published in due course, and will formally outline the new rate alongside the usual funding rules.
Judith Gregory, chair of LACA, commented: "We will be challenging the 0.7% rise as it in no way reflects the true cost increases the school meals service is suffering. The £2.61 per meal for the academic year 2025-26 falls significantly short of the actual cost of provision, which the Cost of the School Meal Report estimates at £3.16.
“LACA will continue to advocate on behalf of our members, pressing for urgent and realistic funding adjustments to protect the viability of school meal services and ensure that every child has access to a hot, healthy and nutritious meal at school.”