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<p>We spend around £600 million every year ensuring 1.5 million infants in reception,
year 1 and year 2 receive a free, nutritious meal at lunchtime. This ensures pupils
are well nourished, develop healthy eating habits and can concentrate and learn.</p><p>We
know that a balanced and nutritious meal, which includes vegetables and fruit, is
good for the health and well-being of children. By showing that more children are
eating a school meal we are confident that our universal infant free school meal (UIFSM)
policy is having a positive impact on children. We expect UIFSMs to bring longer term
benefits for children’s health by instilling early in life healthy eating habits which
will be carried forward into later years.</p><p>Shared mealtimes are great for learning
to talk, behave, take turns, be polite and share. Schools trialling free school meals
in advance of the policy being introduced reported better behaviour and a nicer atmosphere
as a result of pupils eating together every day.</p><p>Since 2010 we’ve been reforming
education and driving up school standards. 1.9 million more children are now being
taught in good and outstanding schools than were in 2010, thanks in part to our reforms.</p><p>
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