Free School Meals for Thousands of South Ribble Kids

4,170 children across South Ribble will qualify for free school meals.

It goes without saying that nutritious food is essential for every child’s development. It boosts concentration, energy levels, mood, and overall physical and mental health, all of which are key to helping children thrive in the classroom and beyond.

That’s why I’m delighted to see this initiative moving forward, alongside the introduction of free breakfast clubs for all primary school children.

This is a welcome step towards tackling child poverty and helping supporting families across the constituency. It's part of the Government’s Child Poverty Strategy, aimed at addressing the root causes of poverty and ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has the opportunity to succeed.

Families receiving Universal Credit will see the benefit of free school dinners from September 2026. Breakfast clubs are currently being trialed in schools across the country and will be rolled out to other schools at a future date to be announced.