Background With effect from September 2014, the then Coalition Government legislated that all Reception and Key Stage 1 pupils attending State funded schools in England should receive a free, nutritious hot meal at lunchtimes. Government funding would be used to reimburse schools for the cost of providing the meals and the stated objective was to improve academic attainment and save families money. The free school meals initiative was introduced alongside existing Pupil Premium funding available to schools to support pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. Historically, schools had accessed the Pupil Premium by identifying those who had been designated eligible to receive free school meals. By providing free schools meals to all Reception and KS1 pupils, disadvantaged families

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