PM visits East of England to mark free school meal expansion

Free school meals will help children "learn better", Sir Keir Starmer said during a visit to a school in Peterborough.

From September 2026, tens of thousands of additional children in the East of England will be eligible for the scheme after it is rolled out to all families on Universal Credit.

The prime minster was joined on his trip east on Monday by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, and met pupils and teachers to discuss how giving children access to a nutritious meal could lead to higher attainment, improved behaviour, and better outcomes.

Sir Keir said the expansion would "give every child the best possible start in life".

During the visit Sir Keir said: "It's not just a meal. It's also an opportunity, because children with a decent meal inside them will learn better.

"So this is about driving down on child poverty."

According to the government, more than 268,000 children in the East of England were living in relative poverty before housing costs, with 20,000 in poverty in Peterborough alone.

Since 2018, children have only been eligible for free school meals if their household income is less than £7,400 per year, meaning hundreds of thousands of children living in poverty were unable to access the scheme.

The government said the expansion would help tens of thousands of children in the East of England alone, putting up to £500 back into families' pockets..

It added that across England, it was expected to benefit 500,000 children and lift 100,000 out of poverty.

The prime minister spoke to children and kitchen staff during his visit to Welland Academy.

Sir Keir said: "I know all parents want the best for their children, and how tough it can feel when money is tight.

"Making sure every child gets a good meal at school isn't just about putting food on the table – it's about giving them the best chance to learn, grow and thrive.

"I'm proud we're expanding free school meals to all families on Universal Credit - saving parents hundreds of pounds and lifting thousands of children out of poverty. Alongside breakfast clubs and better childcare, these changes will make life a little easier for families who need it most.

"No child should go to school hungry or miss out on opportunities because their parents are struggling, or because of where they live. I am determined to bring down child poverty and give every child the best possible start in life."

The Department for Education said £1bn had been set aside to fund the change up to 2029.

It comes after the government expanded free breakfast clubs, with 75 schools across the East of England already offering them to students.

Phillipson said it was the government's "moral mission" to tackle "the stain of child poverty".

"In the next school year, thousands more children across the East of England will begin to see the benefits of a guaranteed, nutritious meal to power them through the school day, and boost their learning so they can achieve and thrive," she added.