On 24 March 2026, Milton Keynes City Council in Buckinghamshire announced that approximately 300 more children are now receiving free school meals. The council identified families who were eligible for the support but had not yet signed up, allowing schools to contact them directly about the help available.
This initiative provides financial relief to working parents and ensures that more children receive a nutritious midday meal at no cost to the family. Currently, children can receive free school meals if their household receives benefits such as Income Support or Universal Credit with an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400.
According to Councillor Joe Hearnshaw, the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, the project helps families deal with the cost of food while also helping local schools. For every child who signs up for the meals, the school receives extra funding from the central government known as the pupil premium.
Schools can use this extra money for specific needs such as targeted learning assistance, wellbeing programmes, or helping pupils with their attendance. This local outreach comes ahead of a national change where the government plans to spend £1 billion to expand the scheme across the country.
From September 2026, eligibility for free school meals will be extended to all households receiving Universal Credit, regardless of their income level. This national expansion is expected to make 500,000 more pupils eligible for the service and help lift 100,000 children out of poverty.
