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<p>The Department for Education is responsible for the introduction of the requirement
that state-funded schools in England should offer universal infant free school meals,
which came into effect on 1 September 2014.</p><p> </p><p>Between 2009 and 2011 the
Department for Education and the Department of Health piloted the provision of universal
free school meals in Durham and Newham. The independent evaluation of those pilots
showed that there were a number of benefits arising from the provision of universal
free school meals, including improved attainment, healthier eating habits and increases
in the uptake of meals among children who would have been eligible for free school
meals under the existing criteria. We also know, from research carried out by the
School Food Trust (now Children’s Food Trust), that universal infant free school meals
will save families who previously paid for school lunches up to £400 a year per infant
child.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has used School Food Trust research into the costs
of school meal provision, as well as feedback from local authorities and stakeholders,
to inform the allocation of funding for this policy and the targeting of implementation
support. In particular, this research informed the decision to allocate £2.30 of revenue
funding per meal taken by newly eligible pupils.</p><p> </p>
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