Free school meal extension to benefit thousands in West Cumbria

The government has announced that every pupil in West Cumbria whose household is on Universal Credit will have a new entitlement to free school meals. 

Starting in September 2026, up to 4,000 more children across West Cumbria will be able to access free school meals, saving parents £500 per year per child and making life easier and more affordable for parents on low incomes who struggle the most.

The government estimates that the expansion of free school meals will lift 100,000 children out of poverty by the end of this Parliament. Giving children access to a nutritious meal during the school day also leads to higher attainment, improved behaviour and better outcomes – meaning they get the best possible education and chance to succeed in work and life.

Since 2018, children have only been eligible for free school meals if their household income is less than £7,400 per year, meaning hundreds of thousands of children living in poverty have been unable to access free school meals. 

Labour’s historic new expansion to all those on Universal Credit – many of whom are working families on low wages – will change this and comes ahead of the Child Poverty Taskforce publishing its ten-year-strategy to further drive down child poverty.

Josh said:

“I know from talking to thousands of local parents and visiting dozens of local schools how much the stain of child poverty has impacted families across West Cumbria.

“That’s why I fully support this decisive and much needed action to expand entitlement for free school meals, lifting children across West Cumbria out of poverty and putting money back in parents’ pockets.

“Many of those on Universal Credit are in work but struggling to get by on low wages. That’s why we also introduced a near record cash increase in the minimum wage in April to boost wages. And we’re also expanding access to 30 hours free childcare this autumn to all working parents of children aged 9 months to 4 years old.

“Children across West Cumbria deserve the best start in life, and I’m proud that Labour is delivering this.”