Research highlights majority of parents in favour of universal primary free school meals
The survey found that just 11% of the parents who took part opposed the move, which is already in place in Scotland, Wales and London. The survey of 1,063 parents in England was conducted between 22-29 May 2024.
The most popular reasons cited for parents supporting universal provision were: to ensure no child goes hungry (84%), to improve health (80%) and 75% thought universal diners would boost a child’s lifetime earnings.
NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede told The Mirror: “It is a disgrace that one in three children living in poverty in England is considered ‘too well off’ to access free school meals. This is because of the draconian eligibility thresholds currently in place.
“Across the country our members tell us they are having to feed hungry children from their own pockets, while many are struggling to make ends meet themselves. This cannot continue. It makes no sense that in one of the richest countries in the world, children are sat in classrooms with empty bellies. It should not fall to already-squeezed school budgets to plug this gap."