Free School Meals Expansion to Benefit Thousands of Families Across Gloucestershire

From September 2026, over half a million additional children in England will become eligible for free school meals following a significant expansion of eligibility rules. This change will benefit thousands of families across Gloucestershire, with more than 7,000 children in Gloucester alone expected to qualify.

Currently, free school meals are available to all children in England up to the end of Year 2. Beyond that, only children from families earning less than £7,400 a year after benefits are eligible. The new rules will extend this vital support to all children living in households receiving Universal Credit (UC), potentially saving parents up to £500 annually on food costs.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the expansion as part of a wider initiative to combat child poverty. According to government estimates, approximately 500,000 more children will qualify nationwide. This policy aims to ensure that no child has to face hunger while trying to succeed at school.

Using the latest available data, our interactive digital map provides estimates of children in UC households by constituency, helping to highlight how many kids will benefit across Gloucestershire. For example, free school meal eligibility is projected to include 3,180 children in South Cotswolds, 4,490 in Tewkesbury, and 7,560 in Gloucester, along with significant numbers in Cheltenham, Stroud, Forest of Dean, and North Cotswolds.

Writing in the Mirror, Sir Keir Starmer emphasized, “I want every child to have every opportunity and the best support to aim high, achieve good grades, and get the best education possible. That starts with the basics – it’s common sense that children can’t do well at school if they’re hungry.” He described the announcement as a “down payment” towards addressing child poverty and highlighted additional support measures such as breakfast clubs.

The decision has been widely praised by campaigners and school unions. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the school leaders’ union NAHT, said, “No child should ever have to go hungry due to their parents’ financial circumstances.” The expanded free school meals program represents a crucial step forward in easing the financial burden on families and supporting children’s education and wellbeing.