Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson visited The Way Youth Zone in Wolverhampton on 31 March 2026 to discuss upcoming government support for working families, including the expansion of free school meals and childcare services. During the visit, which included an Easter holiday club, the Secretary of State was joined by local MP Warinder Juss and West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker to highlight how these national policy changes aim to provide direct financial relief to households.
Starting with the 2026/27 school year, the government is expanding eligibility for free school meals to include all children in households receiving Universal Credit, regardless of income. This change is expected to benefit more than 500,000 additional pupils nationally and is intended to help lift approximately 100,000 children out of poverty. Locally, over 21,000 children and young people in Wolverhampton are currently eligible for free school meals, representing about 42% of all pupils, with this new criteria set to extend support to even more families.
The expansion is part of a broader package designed to reduce living costs for parents. Families could save up to £495 per child annually on school lunches alone. When combined with other initiatives, such as 30 hours of funded childcare per week for eligible working families—available for children from age nine months until they reach school age—and access to free breakfast clubs, the potential annual savings for households are significant. The government is also rolling out free breakfast clubs to an additional 2,000 primary schools across the country, with St Jude’s C of E Primary Academy in Wolverhampton West selected to participate in the programme.
In addition to these measures, the government has committed to funding holiday activity programmes at facilities like The Way Youth Zone for the next three years. These programmes are intended to provide essential support for families during school holidays. Residents seeking more information on current support for children in the city can visit the City of Wolverhampton Council website.
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