Free School Meals Rollout: Which Areas Benefit Most? Mapped Insight Here

More than one in four students in Yorkshire and The Humber are now eligible for free school meals, according to newly released data, highlighting growing concerns about child hunger in the region. The latest figures arrive alongside a significant move by the Government to widen access to free school meals across England, potentially adding another 500,000 children to the eligibility list.

The charity Feeding Britain welcomed the expansion, describing it as a step forward in helping young people “escape the cycle of hunger.” However, it also called on the Government to streamline the registration process, citing the large number of eligible children who still go unregistered.

Regional Trends: Numbers Continue to Rise

Statistics published by the Department for Education show that 28% of pupils in Yorkshire and The Humber—234,569 out of 845,048—were receiving free school meals as of January 2025. That’s up from 27% in the previous year and marks the highest rate since records began in the 2015–16 academic year.

Across England, over 77,000 more children qualified for the scheme compared to the year prior, bringing the national total to 2.17 million (25.7% of pupils).

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Breakdown by Yorkshire Local Authorities

Several local councils in the region saw their highest recorded figures to date:

• Sheffield: 34% (29,096 of 85,444 students)

• Bradford: 30% (30,213 of 99,420 students)

• Hull: 35% (14,928 of 43,031 students)

• Doncaster: 30% (14,407 of 48,718 students)

• Kirklees: 28% (18,261 of 66,338 students)

• Leeds: 27% (35,841 of 132,221 students)

• Calderdale: 27% (9,583 of 35,332 students)

• Rotherham: 29% (13,203 of 45,401 students)

• Barnsley: 29% (10,365 of 35,215 students)

• East Yorkshire: 21% (9,257 of 44,636 students)

• York: 18% (4,441 of 25,274 students)

• North Yorkshire: 19% (15,127 of 81,322 students)

Most local authorities reported year-on-year increases.

Upcoming Policy Shift

The Government’s latest proposal will extend free meal eligibility to all school-aged children in households receiving Universal Credit by September 2026. Currently, families must have annual post-tax earnings of less than £7,400 (excluding benefits) to qualify.

This expansion could save families around £500 per child each year and potentially lift 100,000 children out of poverty, according to official projections.

Charities and Advocates Weigh In

Andrew Forsey OBE, director of Feeding Britain, hailed the move as a “lifeline for working families on low incomes,” but stressed the importance of automatic enrolment to close the registration gap.

“Many children are still missing out simply because they’re not signed up. Automatic registration would ensure no child falls through the cracks.”

Stephanie Slater, CEO of School Food Matters, praised the decision as “a major step away from outdated and overly strict criteria.”

“We know the power of a nutritious school lunch—it’s a game changer. It supports learning, enhances concentration, and offers peace of mind to struggling families.”

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She added that universal meal provision has ripple effects on children’s physical health, mental wellbeing, and academic success—ultimately benefiting the wider economy.

Looking Ahead

A spokesperson for the Department for Education reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ending child hunger:

“This policy forms part of our broader Plan for Change, which is designed to eliminate barriers to opportunity and ensure no child is left behind.”

With the spotlight now on implementation and awareness, stakeholders across the region are urging local councils and schools to work together to ensure every eligible child receives the support they deserve.

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