One in four children in East Lancashire are eligible for free school meals as part of a new government scheme, in what has been described as a 'historic moment'.
The Department for Education announced on Thursday, June 5, that more than a million children will benefit from a meal at school every day by expanding the eligibility for free school meals.
This relates to 7,240 children in Blackburn with Darwen and 44,194 across the rest of Lancashire (excluding Blackpool), and makes up 25.6 per cent and 24.8 per cent of the school population, respectively.
Cllr Julie Gunn, Executive Member for Children’s Services said: “This is a welcome announcement from the government. We know just how important it is for children to have healthy meals for personal development but also for educational benefits at school.
“The added investment in supporting more children and their families has been an urgent priority with the rising cost of living.”
Coming into effect at the start of the 2026 school year, every household on Universal Credit will have a new entitlement to free school meals.
Number 10 said this expansion will lift 100,000 children across England out of poverty and is also expected to lead to higher attainment with improved behaviour and better outcomes.
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.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "Working parents across the country are working tirelessly to provide for their families, but are being held back by cost-of-living pressures.
"My government is taking action to ease those pressures.
"Feeding more children every day, for free, is one of the biggest interventions we can make to put more money in parents’ pockets, tackle the stain of poverty, and set children up to learn.
"This expansion is a truly historic moment for our country, helping families who need it most and delivering our Plan for Change to give every child, no matter their background, the same chance to succeed."
The legislation comes on top of targeted support for families hit the hardest by the cost-of-living crisis, including raising the national minimum wage.
County Councillor Mathew Salter, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: "We remain committed to ensuring that all children and young people have access to healthy and nutritious meals.
"Free school meals are a real lifeline and we welcome the fact that that more families will be eligible in Lancashire."
Additionally, the government said it is hoping to ensure quality and nutrition in the meals and is looking to revise the School Food Standards, so every school is supported with the latest nutritional guidance.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: "It is the moral mission of this government to tackle the stain of child poverty.
"Today, this government takes a giant step towards ending it with targeted support that puts money back in parents’ pockets.
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"From free school meals to free breakfast clubs, breaking the cycle of child poverty is at the heart of our Plan for Change to cut the unfair link between background and success.
"We believe that background shouldn’t mean destiny. Today’s historic step will help us to deliver excellence everywhere, for every child and give more young people the chance to get on in life."
Families have to apply for free school meals, meaning some children may miss out in this way too.
Whilst the announcement has been largely welcomed by education leaders and campaigners, some organisations have called for the Government to go further.
This has included introducing auto-enrolment to ensure eligible children don't slip through the cracks.
Lancashire County Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council have been contacted for comment.
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