Nourishing the Nation: Why the Government must extend Free School Meals

Free School Meals ensure children are guaranteed at least one hot, healthy meal a day. There is strong evidence this improves children's health as well as academic performance and future economic prosperity.

But the restrictively low household income threshold of £7,400 means there are currently 900,000 children living in poverty in England who are not eligible for a free school meal.

This briefing sets out the economic case for extending free school meals and the level of support for such a policy among voters.