Join us to hear from local councils about lessons learned, what’s working and what challenges schools and local authorities face in ensuring every eligible child is registered and able to take up free school meals.

From September 2026, free school meals (FSM) have been expanded in England to include children in all households receiving Universal Credit. This is a significant step towards ensuring more children can access a healthy, nutritious meal at school.

But how is the expansion working in practice?

Local authorities are taking different approaches to identifying newly eligible children, communicating with families, supporting registration and take-up, and managing increased demand for school meals.

Join us for an online panel discussion bringing together local authorities to share their experiences of the rollout so far. We'll explore what's working well, the challenges councils are facing, and practical lessons that could help other areas make the most of this expansion.

Who should attend?

This webinar is primarily for local authorities and councils, particularly teams involved in free school meals, auto-registration, education as well as providing wider food security support to communities and families. It will also be relevant to education leaders and school food policy professionals.