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<p>This government is committed to ensuring that children are well nourished and develop
healthy eating habits that stay with them for the rest of their lives. Healthy eating
not only supports children’s health but also has an important contribution to make
in ensuring children are able to concentrate and learn in schools, and therefore achieve
their potential in life.</p><p>Under the benefits-based criteria, around 1.3 million
of the most disadvantaged children are eligible for and claiming free school meals.
Benefits-related free meals were extended to disadvantaged further education students
in September 2014. A further 1.4 million infants receive a free nutritious meal under
the Universal Infant Free School Meals scheme.</p><p>We do not currently have plans
to extend free school meals to all primary pupils. We believe in prioritising the
policy so it is focused on children that are most in need. We will review the eligibility
criteria for free school meals at the end of the roll-out of Universal Credit. We
have increased access to free meals through the introduction of Universal Infant Free
School Meals and Further Education Free Meals. Our amended free school meal criteria,
introduced in April 2018 mean we expect more pupils to benefit from benefits-related
free school meals in 2022, compared to the legacy system.</p><p> </p>
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