Imagine stepping into a lively classroom filled with thirty enthusiastic children. Now, picture nine of these bright young minds growing up in challenging situations and struggling with poverty. Unfortunately, this is the reality for more than 4.3 million children across the UK today. These numbers aren’t just statistics; they represent our neighbours, our pupils, our own kids and the promise of our future. The levels of child poverty in this country are appalling, and one of the most heartbreaking impacts is the lack of nutritious food and in many cases a lack of food full stop.
That’s why ShefFood, Sheffield’s food partnership, is proud to support the No Child Left Behind campaign, which is leading a growing national movement to ensure that every child in England has access to Free School Meals (FSM), regardless of household income. We believe that healthy food is a right, not a reward, and that no child should go hungry.
Currently, in England, Free School Meals are only available to all pupils up to Year 2. From Year 3 onwards, children must meet strict eligibility criteria. This means that countless children from working families, families already stretched by the rising cost of living, miss out on a hot, healthy lunch simply because their household earns just above the threshold. This system is broken.
As the No Child Left Behind campaign highlights, 71% of children living in poverty are in working households. In other words, work no longer guarantees security. Families with two or more children are especially vulnerable, with 42% of them living below the poverty line. At the same time, food prices are climbing, energy bills are soaring, and household budgets are being squeezed from every side.
A healthy school dinner isn’t a luxury; everyone needs it. It plays a vital role in supporting children’s concentration, well-being, and learning abilities. Many dedicated teachers across the country are noticing that students are arriving at school hungry, tired, and struggling to focus. This is something we should all treat as a national emergency!
This isn’t a radical idea. In fact, the UK is already falling behind.
Wales was the first nation to introduce universal Free School Meals in primary schools. Scotland followed for pupils up to age 10. In London, all primary school children now benefit from FSM provision — a policy that has been made permanent thanks to public pressure and political will.
Meanwhile, Spain’s national government has just approved a decree requiring schools to provide five healthy meals a week, with an emphasis on fresh, seasonal, and nutritious ingredients. They’ve gone so far as to ban ultra-processed foods like sugary pastries and mandate the inclusion of fish, legumes, whole grains, and vegetarian options. If Spain can take bold action to prioritise children’s health, why can’t the UK?
In a recent The New Statesman article, chef and food campaigner Jamie Oliver put it plainly: “If kids are hungry, they can’t learn.It’s that simple.” Oliver has been a longstanding advocate for better food in schools, and he’s not alone in his criticism. While the UK government has introduced some breakfast clubs, campaigners like Oliver argue that there are no proper nutritional standards in place — just empty promises without accountability.
If we want to give our children the best start in life, we must do better. Our government must do better.
In Sheffield, we’re already working towards healthier futures through initiatives like Eat Smart Sheffield, a programme delivered by Learn Sheffield and commissioned by Sheffield City Council. It supports schools across the city in developing a “whole school and settings approach” to food and nutrition, involving not just pupils but parents, teachers, and the wider community.
From growing veg in the playground to revamping canteen menus and holding family cooking sessions, Eat Smart Sheffield helps create environments where good food is the norm, not the exception. But while these efforts are fantastic, they need to be matched by universal access to Free School Meals. Because no amount of education can fill an empty stomach.
ShefFood believes in a city where all children thrive, not just survive. We know that good food supports not just academic success, but better health outcomes, stronger communities, a more robust economy and a fairer society. And we know that when we invest in children’s nutrition, we invest in their future.
The National Education Union launched the Free School Meals for All campaign in 2022. Since then, it has grown into a coalition of over 300 organisations and public figures, including doctors, dentists, educators, school nurses, faith leaders, and food campaigners. Together, they are demanding that the UK government follows the lead of Wales, Scotland, and London, and delivers FSM to every child in primary school.
Now, ShefFood is adding its voice to the call. We’re asking Sheffielders to stand with us. Let’s show our children that their city cares. That we won’t allow them to go without. That we believe no child should be left behind. Sign the petition today to support Free School Meals for All: freeschoolmealsforall.org.uk/take-action
Your signature can help change the conversation. Your voice can help ensure that every child in every classroom, from Darnall to Crookes, gets the food they need to learn, grow, and belong. Because a good education doesn’t end at the school gate — it starts with a full stomach.
