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<p>We are making a significant investment in free school meals for children. Nutritious
food in schools helps ensure pupils are well nourished, develop healthy eating habits
and can concentrate and learn. We ensure that the most disadvantaged children receive
a free healthy lunch at school and in 2019, around 1.3 million disadvantaged children
benefitted from this important provision, saving families roughly £400 a year.</p><p>
</p><p>Free meals were also extended to disadvantaged further education students in
September 2014. In addition, universal infant free school meals were introduced in
2014, and the department spends around £600 million each year ensuring 1.4 million
infants receive a free meal through this programme. We have confirmed the funding
arrangements for this provision for the current academic year, and arrangements for
2020/21 will be confirmed in due course.</p>
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