MP backs Government’s historic uplift to free school meal eligibility, but urges council to do more
Under the Government’s new plans to expand free school meals to children from all households receiving Universal Credit from September 2026, 47% more children in Stafford, Eccleshall, and the villages would become eligible. To ensure all eligible children will benefit from this change, Leigh Ingham MP has written Staffordshire County Council Leader Councillor Ian Cooper to encourage the council to implement an autoenrollment system – removing the need for parents to apply.
Until now, only families earning less than £7,400 were eligible for free school meals. The Government’s changes to eligibility will benefit 500,000 children nationally, and up to 3,460 children in Stafford, Eccleshall, and the villages. The unprecedented expansion will lift 100,000 children across England out of poverty.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Feeding more children every day, for free, is one of the biggest interventions we can make to put more money in parents’ pockets, tackle the stain of poverty, and set children up to learn.”
Leigh Ingham, MP for Stafford, Eccleshall, and the villages said: “I am so happy that free school meal eligibility is going to rise by 47% across Stafford, Eccleshall, and the villages! This is a huge step in tackling child poverty and supporting young people’s educational success.
“Giving children the access to a nutritious meal during the school day leads to higher attainment, improved behaviour, and better outcomes – meaning they get the best possible education and chance to succeed in work and life.
“While this announcement does make eligibility much simpler, parents do still have to enrol, and I’m keen to see Staffordshire County Council implement an auto enrolment system to avoid any children missing out.
“I’ve already raised this with Staffordshire County Council and will continue to advocate for an auto enrolment approach to free school meals, so as many children as possible can benefit.”
The Government’s historic new expansion of free school meals to those on Universal Credit comes ahead of the Child Poverty Taskforce publishing its ten-year-strategy to drive sustainable change later this year.
It comes on top of targeted support for families being hit the hardest with the cost-of living crisis, with urgent action including raising the national minimum wage, uprating benefits and supporting 700,000 families through the Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions.
