Study shows free school meals stigma boosts packed lunch popularity
Segregation in the school hall at lunchtime and the stigmatisation of receiving free school meals (FSMs) from the state are key factors for parents who are opting for sending children to school with packed lunches instead, according to a new study from the Institute for Social and Economic Research.
FSMs are a component of state support for families on low income – and trigger payment of the Pupil Premium, the extra targeted funding for schools to help those from poorer backgrounds – but take up amongst the entitled is dropping.
More than 1.1 million children are entitled to FSMs but around 300,000 are not taking up or registering for the benefit.
The financial cost to parents is estimated at around £400 a year per child, but missing out on the important nutritional content of the meal may also have a detrimental impact on the health of the nation’s poorest children.
Schools also lose extra funds of £600 per child from the Government’s Pupil Premium scheme.
The research by Angus Holford at ISER, based at the University of Essex, found the Scottish government’s experiment to introduce universal entitlement to FSMs in areas of high deprivation raised take-up among those already entitled both during and after the experiment.
Elsewhere, anonymised payment schemes – where parents pre-register to pay or to receive the benefit online for example – also raised take-up substantially.
Holford said his research showed peer pressure and prejudice was affecting parents’ choices in applying for FSM.
“Peer pressure is undoubtedly important. Results show that in a typical school a 10 percentage point rise in peer-group take-up would reduce non-participation by almost a quarter.
“This is both because children would rather eat with their friends, and because people set greater store by the actions of their friends and classmates than information from authorities.
“Schools should let all classmates eat together, at the same time, to reduce any stigmatisation. Introducing anonymised payment schemes would also dramatically increase take-up.”