Free school meal automatic enrolment campaign in Liverpool moves to next phase
More than 100 families in Liverpool have already signed up for a new initiative to automatically enrol eligible children for free school meals.
Approximately 26,000 households in the city receive free school meals, but national figures show that around one in ten children are missing out.
Liverpool City Council has streamlined the enrolment process as part of its commitment to boosting take-up rates, to ensure no child goes without a decent meal during the school day, and saving parents around £500 per year.
The council has identified approximately 550 children who are not currently enrolled.
An initial letter was sent encouraging those families to sign up, and 100 households have already done so.
In the latest phase, the council has now written to households to inform them that it will move to automatically enrolling eligible children. Parents and carers who do not respond will then receive confirmation that their child will be enrolled unless they choose to opt out.
The proactive approach is designed to ensure no child misses out on their entitlement as they return to school after the summer break.
An additional benefit is that it will boost Pupil Premium funding for the school each child attends. This is currently worth £1,480 per child for primary schools, and £1,050 for secondary schools.
The move aligns with the UK Government’s announcement that all families receiving Universal Credit will qualify for free school meals from September 2026. The Government has said that, nationally, it will lift 100,000 children out of poverty.
Councillor Ruth Bennett, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources, and Transformation, said:
“It is vital that every child in this city has the best possible start in life, and access to free school meals is an integral part of that.
“By automatically enrolling all eligible children, we are guaranteeing that every child who is entitled to a free school meal will receive it.
“It is putting money back into the pockets of families each year, making a real difference to households struggling with the cost of living.”
Cabinet Member for Employment, Educational Attainment and Skills, Councillor Joanne Kennedy, said:
“Children need to be in the best possible frame of mind for learning, and a decent meal is an essential part of that.
“Together with the Government’s commitment to extend free school meals for all children whose parents receive Universal Credit from September 2026, it will make a real difference to many hundreds of young people in our city.”
Families can also find out if they are eligible for free school meals, and register themselves here.
