Free school meal auto-enrolment: Schools North East and NECPC lead the way
Schools North East and the North East Child Poverty Commission (NECPC) have been at the forefront of the push for free school meal auto-enrolment, a vital step in tackling child poverty across the North East.
Following intense advocacy and compelling evidence from local pilots, the government has acknowledged the issue, but the proposed changes don’t go far enough.
What has changed – And what still needs to change
During the Committee stage of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, Early Education Minister Stephen Morgan announced an overhaul of the FSM eligibility system. This new system would allow parents and schools to check eligibility directly, bypassing local councils.
While this is a step forward, it still places the burden on schools and families to navigate the system, rather than implementing the automatic enrolment model successfully trialed in the North East.
Amanda Bailey, Director of NECPC, highlighted a critical flaw: the government’s refusal to share data between departments. Currently, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) shares information with local authorities to support the Household Support Fund, but won’t do the same to enable FSM auto-enrolment.
This inconsistency raises questions about the real barriers to data-sharing—is it a genuine data security concern, or reluctance to set a precedent that could lead to wider auto-enrolment of other benefits?
Why automatic enrolment matters
Local pilots in Northumberland, County Durham, Middlesbrough, and Redcar & Cleveland demonstrated the life-changing impact of auto-enrolment:
- 4,000 additional children were identified and registered for FSM, ensuring they receive vital nutritional and educational support.
- £5.37 million in extra annual pupil premium funding was secured for local schools, supporting wider educational improvements.
- Only 26 families opted out, highlighting the overwhelming community support and need for the initiative.
Despite these successes, the current proposals require families to actively check their eligibility—a significant barrier, as many assume they are not entitled to FSM because they already receive Universal Credit.
This misunderstanding is a key reason why 11% of eligible children in the North East miss out on FSM.
Schools North East and NECPC: Leading the campaign for change
Schools North East and NECPC continue to lead the charge for true automatic enrolment, which would eliminate bureaucratic barriers and ensure no child misses out on vital support. By highlighting the success of the North East pilots, they are pressing the government to adopt a national auto-enrolment system that proactively identifies eligible children using existing data.
A call for real change
Schools North East is urging the government to move beyond incremental changes and adopt a bold, data-driven approach that automatically registers eligible children for FSM.
As Amanda Bailey noted, “Ministers have recognised the issue, which is a big step forward. But the proposed changes still fall short of the true systemic change needed to eradicate child poverty.”
Chris Zarraga, Director of Schools North East, reinforced this message: “The North East has shown what’s possible when data is used effectively to support our most vulnerable children. It’s time for the government to step up and follow our lead.”
Continuing the fight for equity in education
Schools North East remains steadfast in its mission to champion equity in education, ensuring every child in the region has the opportunity to thrive. By leading this campaign, we are not only influencing national policy but also setting a benchmark for social justice and educational equity across the UK.