School children are receiving smaller portions, cheaper ingredients, and less meat in their lunches as caterers struggle with rising food costs, according to the new chair of a school food organisation.
Michael Hales, the incoming chair of LACA, said schools are increasingly being forced to cover the growing gap between government funding for free school meals and the actual cost of providing lunches for all students.
This follows the government's announcement to expand free school meals — a move Mr. Hales described as 'welcome,' while emphasising that additional funding is 'essential' to make it sustainable.
The Department for Education (DfE) described the “fully funded” expansion of free school meals as a 'historic step to tackle the stain of child poverty'.
A spokesperson added that the government would continue to review the funding rates provided to schools for free meals.
In April, it was announced that the rate would increase by just 3p in the next academic year — from £2.58 to £2.61 per meal — a rise Mr. Hales called 'inadequate' and 'almost considered an insult.'
Mr. Hales said caterers affiliated with LACA—who serve around three million school meals each day—are being forced to make 'really difficult decisions' about portion sizes and the quality of ingredients they can afford.
He described it as an 'ever-increasing challenge' to meet the government's school food standards, which officials have said they are planning to 'revise' with input from industry experts.
In England, the government will provide primary schools with £2.61 per meal in 2025–26 to fund the universal infant free school meals scheme, which offers free lunches to all children from Reception to Year 2, regardless of household income.
After Year 2, primary and secondary schools receive additional pupil premium funding from the government for each student who qualifies for free school meals. Currently, eligibility is limited to children from families on Universal Credit with an annual income below £7,400.
However, in June, the government announced that starting in September 2026, all children in families receiving Universal Credit—regardless of household income—will become eligible for free school meals.
The government said the change would enable an additional 500,000 children to qualify for free school meals.
Mr. Hales said a recent survey of LACA members indicated the true cost of providing a meal is closer to £3.45—about 80p higher than the £2.61 allocated to schools for free school meals in England.
LACA sent its annual cost of living survey to 500 members, with 67 responding. Those respondents reported catering for 5,689 schools, serving approximately 1.3 million pupils. By comparison, England has around 24,000 state schools with a total pupil population of just over nine million.
Among the 67 schools, councils, and private catering firms that responded to the LACA survey:
- 17 reported reducing some portion sizes
- 35 said they had cut certain menu options
- 38 revealed they replaced some meats with cheaper protein alternatives
- 56 indicated they had adjusted their recipes
LACA’s survey also indicated that since March 2020, the price parents pay for school dinners for children not eligible for free meals has risen by 20%.
Mr. Hales warned this increase could continue if schools don’t receive additional government funding to cover rising costs.
The provision of free school meals varies significantly across the UK.
In London and Wales, all primary school children up to Year 6 are eligible for universal free school meals.
While the funding rate for most of England is £2.61 per meal, schools in London receive a higher rate of £3, and in Wales, the rate is £3.20.
In Scotland, all children in the first five years of primary school are eligible for free school meals, along with all children from families receiving the Scottish Child Payment benefit.
In Northern Ireland, parents can apply for free school meals if they receive certain benefits and have a household income below £15,000.
