Prosperity 2030 UCL · IGP Prosperity 2030

NFS : School Meals

Year round universal free school meals

Universal Service · food
Free school meals
8.5 million meals
Per school day after 5 years
Average Saving
£240 per year
Per student
Cost of Living Reduction
£2.3 Billion / year
Total household savings

Two thirds of all NFS meals will be free school meals, provided through expanding access to all with year-round coverage.

Universal free school meals starting with Primary schools and expanding to all schools from Year 2. A budget of £3.4 billion a year will be allocated from Year 4 once the programme is expanded to provide free meals to school-age children during holidays, with an expected take-up rate of one quarter of the term time take up.

Overall the programme budgets increasing capacity by 55%, hiring 20,000 catering staff, and spending £0.45 billion on kitchen upgrades.

Published 18 May 2026