MP MATT Western has welcomed the expansion of free school meals to up to 3.150 additional children in his constituency.
Across England, 500,000 more children will now be eligible for free school meals after the government broadened the eligibility.
Previously, only children living in households where the household income was less than £7,400 per year were eligible for free school meals. Mr Western, the MP for Warwick and Leamington, has said this “meant hundreds of children locally were living in poverty but still remained ineligible for free school meals”.
Changes made by the government mean that any child with a parent who claims any amount of Universal Credit will now be eligible to receive free school meals.
Parents and guardians can apply before the start of the school year 2026 by providing their National Insurance Number to check their eligibility.
The government say the move will lift 100,000 out of poverty.
Mr Western said: “This is incredibly welcome news. Children should arrive at school with hungry minds – not hungry bellies. We cannot sit back and allow children to go hungry and expect them to get through a full school day without a decent meal.
“This change will mean up to 3,150 children in years three to 11 in Warwick, Leamington, Whitnash and the surrounding villages will now be eligible to receive free school meals.
“That is hundreds more children able to go about their school day with the fuel they need to succeed. The right thing to do.”
