I remember going for free school dinners at my primary school in the Borders of Scotland. We’d all troop outside, walk down a small slope and go into the shiny, skiddy-floored basement where the dinners were served. Huge saucepans and scuffed stainless-steel trays revealed to us delights such as mince and tatties, treacle tart and custard. We’d sit at Formica-topped tables, and we had milk too, in little cartons, with small, thin blue straws. At the time I didn’t think much about lunches being free, but I did think of school as a place that provided, a place where we were fed and looked after. I probably took it for granted – something too many poor pupils cannot do today.
This week, 12 school leaders from teaching unions and trusts have written to chancellor Rishi Sunak, and education secretary Nadhim Zahawi, calling for the free school meals scheme to be expanded to all families on universal credit. It’s a good idea, but it highlights how far England is lagging behind its neighbours: in Scotland, free school meals are now universal for all children at primary school; Wales is doing the same for their children from this September.
