Purpose

See attached ODR for details

Decision

Approve the use of £300,000 of Public Health reserve funds to deliver a time-limited research and evaluation project to assess the impact and feasibility of providing universal free school meals in
Doncaster. Funding would support the provision of free school meals to all pupils in two primary schools, one school in an area of high deprivation and one in an area of low deprivation, for one academic year (September 2027-July 2028). Outcomes would be compared with those from two control schools with similar demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.

Alternative options considered

Option 1: Do nothing
Maintain current free school meal eligibility based on national criteria only. This would require no additional investment but would not address the significant number of children experiencing
poverty and food insecurity who are currently ineligible for support. It would also miss opportunities to improve nutrition, wellbeing, attendance and educational outcomes. This is not the preferred option.

Option 2: Expand eligibility for free school meals on a means-tested basis.
Extend free school meals to a wider group of lower-income families using local eligibility criteria. This would target support and cost less than universal provision, but some families in financial hardship would still be excluded. Means testing can also create stigma, increase administration and reduce uptake. While an improvement on the current system, it would not maximise access or equity.

Option 3: Subsidise school meals for every pupil
Reduce the cost of meals for all pupils while requiring families to make a contribution. This would broaden support and may increase uptake, but cost would remain a barrier for some families, particularly those experiencing poverty. It would be less effective at reducing stigma and achieving the wider benefits associated with universal provision.