The UK government is facing growing pressure to review the accessibility of free school meals in special schools, after a new study revealed that 25% of eligible children are not receiving the meals they are entitled to.
Findings from the Adapt-Ed research project, led by the University of Hertfordshire in collaboration with the University of Essex and the charity School Food Matters, show a troubling trend: many children in special educational settings are unable to access free meals due to dietary restrictions and unmet eating needs.
SEND Pupils at Greater Risk of Going Without
The study discovered that one in four pupils in special schools who qualify for free meals are not taking them up, and among infant-aged children, the gap is even wider compared to their mainstream counterparts. While 1 in 8 infants in general education miss their universal free meals, the figure rises to 1 in 5 for those in special schools.
The research highlights a lack of suitable food options for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), many of whom rely on specific diets or familiar foods due to sensory sensitivities or health conditions.
“Food presentation and the way new foods are introduced can significantly affect whether a child is willing to eat,” the report noted, stressing that improper provision can result in children going through the entire school day without a proper meal. This lack of nourishment can have serious consequences, including difficulty focusing in class, increased stress, and longer-term health impacts.
Also Read – Want to Be a Childminder? Here’s How to Apply and Get a ÂŁ1,200 Grant
Experts Call for Inclusive Food Policies
The researchers are now urging the government to introduce tailored, evidence-backed guidelines to help schools meet the nutritional and sensory needs of SEND pupils. They emphasize that special schools are often left without clear protocols on how to adapt menus or comply with national school food standards for children with additional needs.
Professor Rebecca O’Connell of the University of Hertfordshire, one of the study’s lead authors, said there is a pressing need to rethink what inclusive, healthy food looks like.
“We know that many children with SEND miss out on the benefits of school meals, but there’s a lack of national data and policy focus. It’s essential we move toward school food systems that accommodate all children,” she stated.
Government Expands Eligibility, But Gaps Remain
Although the Department for Education recently announced that starting this September, all families on Universal Credit will be eligible for free school meals—a move expected to benefit around half a million more children—the Adapt-Ed team says more needs to be done to ensure that meals are actually accessible to those who need them most.
The report recommends that the government utilize its existing Child Poverty Taskforce—or create a new one—to focus specifically on meal uptake among children with SEND. The authors also urge the publication of detailed data to track how many eligible SEND students in mainstream schools are receiving their meals.
Parliamentarians Echo the Call
Sharon Hodgson MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on School Food, described the findings as “deeply concerning.”
“It is simply unacceptable that a quarter of children in special schools eligible for free school meals aren’t receiving them,” Hodgson said. “We must do everything possible to remove the barriers preventing these children from accessing nutritious food.”
Also Read – Drowning Prevention Week: How Schools Teach Children Water Safety
Some Progress, but More Needed
In response to earlier advocacy, the Department for Education did update its guidance last year, allowing local councils to consider offering alternatives such as food vouchers to children unable to attend school due to disabilities. That change came after pressure from campaigners, including disability charity Contact, which estimated at the time that around 100,000 disabled children were being excluded from the free meals system.
Yet campaigners and researchers say systemic reform is still needed. Without it, thousands of vulnerable children risk falling through the cracks of a system meant to support them.
