Highlighting the essential role the FSM programme plays in safeguarding children’s health, educational attainment, and long-term outcomes, the letter argues that the current FSM funding rate is no longer sufficient against a backdrop of rising food costs, increased labour costs driven by London Living Wage uplifts, and higher Employer National Insurance contributions, all of which have reduced the funds available for ingredient procurement.

FSM funding currently sits at £2.61 per meal, but without an increase to at least £3.50 per meal, providers will be forced to compromise on food quality, undermining both nutritional standards and the integrity of the programme.

The current eligibility threshold has also left many struggling families without the support they need, putting their children’s health and attainment at risk.

Olive Dining serves over 150,000 students across 170 schools – many of these in deprived areas of London and the South East. Currently, more than 68,000 of these students rely on FSM, and Olive Dining has increased FSM uptake by 22 per cent in the past 12 months, with total meal uptake now exceeding 80 per cent of the school population.

Speaking about her letter to the government, Stephanie Spratt, co-founder and CEO of Olive Dining, said: “The FSM scheme is a lifeline for many families across the UK, and as the squeeze on household budgets continues, access to consistent, nutritious meals at school is more important than ever. Children and young people need well-balanced meals not just to benefit their physical health, but to support their cognitive development, concentration, and academic performance. But without adequate funding, this is becoming more difficult.

“An increase in funding is essential to ensure schools can continue to provide meals made from fresh, high-quality, UK sourced ingredients. I’m calling on the government to increase FSM funding by 89p per child to reflect current market conditions; address the impact of rising labour costs, including London Living Wage increases and Employer National Insurance contributions; expand eligibility to support more low- and middle-income families; and reinforce and invest in robust nutritional standards for school meals.”

With a total of 223 Wiltshire Farm Foods EVs now on the road and 75% of customer delivery rounds electrified nationwide, the business has successfully completed the target set for its transition.

With a £14.3m investment behind the development and implementation of EVs capable of sustaining consistent freezer temperatures for extended periods of time, apetito has delivered true market-leading innovation that is redefining what sustainable progress looks like within the sector.

The change is set to save an impressive 1,102 tonnes of CO2e from the meals provider’s scope 1 emissions each year – a reduction that represents an estimated 8.37% reduction in its total scope 1 and 2 footprint, making it the largest carbon reduction delivered by any of its projects to date and accelerating progress towards its ambitious carbon reduction targets.

Lee Sheppard, Director of Corporate Affairs, Policy and Sustainability for apetito | Wiltshire Farm Foods said: “It may be common to see electric vehicles on the road today, but the technology required to meet the challenging demands of our frozen fleet required a truly pioneering approach.

“To help power this progress, many of our vans feature specialist enhancements, including roof-mounted solar panels that generate additional power whilst on the move.

“Over the past 18 months we have been introducing the vehicles across our operation and are extremely proud of how far we’ve come on this journey – with electric vehicles now supporting 75% of our customer delivery rounds in Wiltshire Farm Foods. This is a target we set early in the project, and one that we feel incredibly proud to have delivered – at a time when many businesses struggle to turn sustainability commitments into reality.

“Our fleet is already setting a new benchmark for sustainable transportation, and reaching this important milestone marks a significant step toward completing the transformation.”

The aim of this research is to build a detailed picture of the real experiences, expectations, and priorities of pupils, parents, and school staff regarding meals for pupils.

Speaking of the initiative, Rupert Weber, General Manager of Education said:

“We know that lunches play a crucial role in supporting pupil wellbeing and giving children the fuel they need to concentrate and thrive in their learning.

“As one of the fastest growing school meals providers, we’re committed to shaping and delivering a service that truly reflects what pupils, parents and schools value most. This research will help us gain deeper insight into what children and parents want from school food, as well as the challenges and opportunities schools face in delivering a high-quality meals service for pupils.”

If you want to play a part in shaping the future of school catering, make your voice heard by taking part in the market research here: https://education.apetito.co.uk/kids-proposition-research

The partnership has seen the successful deployment of more than 90 EPoS terminals across 30 sites, supporting a large and diverse catering operation. The new system is used by over 190 EPoS users and 65 back-office users, providing a modern, flexible platform designed to enhance operational efficiency and improve the day-to-day experience for staff and students. With integrated merchant services creating a seamless payment experience across campus.

Commenting on the partnership, Paul Taylor, Head of Operations at Durham University, said: “This partnership represents an important step forward for our catering operations. The rollout has delivered a modern and flexible EPoS platform that supports our teams across multiple sites and provides a strong foundation for future innovation. We’re pleased to be working with a partner that understands the complexity and scale of a university environment.”

Paul Markey, Head of Sales & Accounts at Lolly, added: “Durham University is a great example of how institutions are investing in flexible, future-ready technology to support both operational performance and the student experience. We’re proud to be partnering with the University and look forward to supporting the next phase of its digital catering strategy.”

Building on the partnership, Durham University is already working with Lolly on the next phase of its EPoS roadmap. Planned developments include self-service kiosks, counter self-service and AI tray-scanning solutions, all designed to further enhance efficiency and the customer experience.

A key project currently in development is the integration of the EPoS platform into a loyalty and cashless app, which will streamline operations and increase engagement with students and staff. A pilot version of the app is scheduled for release at Easter 2026, with a full rollout planned for Freshers 2026, aligned with the start of the academic year.

Affinity Workforce delivered more than 8,500 breakfasts across four primary schools in England in January as part of its Before the Bell campaign, which aims to ensure no child is too hungry to learn.

Schools in Barnsley, Birmingham, Wirral and London received a week of free breakfast provision after the company surveyed its supply teachers and discovered that nearly 70% of children were experiencing hunger that affected their ability to learn.

The campaign was launched after research from Affinity Workforce revealed that almost one in three teachers see hungry children at the start of the school day every single day, with 59% saying hunger significantly affects pupils’ ability to learn in morning lessons and 70% saying it affects classroom behaviour.

Esme Bianchi-Barry, CEO of Affinity Workforce, said: “Our supply teachers work across hundreds of different schools, so they have a unique perspective on the scale of this problem. They told us that child hunger is not a localised issue, it is a nationwide crisis affecting learning and behaviour in classrooms across the country.

“We launched Before the Bell because we could not wait for someone else to act. In January, we provided over 8,500 breakfasts to more than 1,600 pupils at four schools in some of England’s most deprived areas. But one week is not enough. We are continuing to monitor the situation and working with our teachers and schools to do what we can to make sure that children aren’t going hungry and can get the most out of their education.”

The four schools selected were Laithes Primary School in Barnsley, Christ Church C of E Nursery and Primary School in Birmingham, Riverside Primary School in Wirral, and Julian’s Primary School in London. All serve communities facing significant deprivation, with Pupil Premium rates ranging from 56% to 58%.

Corinna Holden, Managing Director of Monarch Education, part of Affinity Workforce, said: “Because our supply teachers move between schools, they could see patterns that this was happening nationwide. We’re talking about the experience of more than 300 schools. This isn’t a localised problem, it’s a nationwide problem.

“One week at four schools won’t solve the problem, but it has highlighted to us the importance of pushing government to do more. We’re continuing with the campaign and this should be at the top of the agenda for government to make sure that children really get the most out of education.”

Affinity Workforce’s research found that more than a third of schools have no breakfast provision at all, with cost identified as the biggest barrier preventing children from accessing breakfast. Almost half of teachers said they now see more hungry children than when they first started teaching.

Following the launch of Before the Bell, the government announced that it will extend free school meals to all children in households on Universal Credit from September 2026, benefiting over 500,000 children, and fund breakfast clubs in schools across England.

Chris Carter, Regional Director for CER Education, part of Affinity Workforce, said: “It’s been great for our staff to do something different, to go and see the pupils and get involved in something so important that affects their learning. Supporting our drive to help reduce hunger in schools has been a fantastic opportunity for our teams across the country.”

Affinity Workforce provides temporary staff to schools, multi-academy trusts, colleges and training providers across the UK through its brands Affinity Partnerships, Career Teachers, CER Education, Monarch Education and The Protocol Group.

To date, Nourish has reached more than 35,000 children and young people across seven London boroughs, supporting schools to create food environments that put children’s nutrition first. Building on its success in London, the programme will be expanded to Hertfordshire, Birmingham and Cumberland in 2026.

The 2015 school food standards were dubbed mandatory, yet the lack of reporting accountability has failed to consistently deliver improved nutrition to school children. Nourish was designed to bridge the gap between ambition and reality. An independent evaluation of the programme shows how practical support and consistent monitoring can turn national ambition into lasting change.

The evaluation highlights that, in busy and resource-constrained school settings, expert guidance, clear expectations and robust monitoring are needed to help schools make positive changes that benefit children’s health, wellbeing and learning.

Stephanie Slater MBE, founder/chief executive, School Food Matters, said: “By working alongside schools, rather than adding pressure, Nourish provides a practical, proven way to improve food quality and culture – turning standards and investment into real, everyday improvements for children.

“This government has set a bold ambition for school food. We urge them to seize this crucial opportunity to enact real change that delivers for children, starting with revised standards, robust monitoring and genuine accountability.”

Jamie Oliver, chef and child health campaigner, said:  “This robust evaluation of the Nourish programme, across 108 schools and more than 35,000 children over five years, proves without doubt the positive impact delicious and nutritious school food has on our kid’s happiness, health and capacity to learn. If you nourish their stomachs, you nourish their minds.”

Baroness Rosie Boycott, former chair of the London Food Board and Member of the House of Lords, said: “We know that strong food policy can transform lives, but only if it is properly implemented and monitored. Nourish shows that with the right support for senior leaders and catering teams, school food can deliver real benefits and set children up to thrive. This evidence must be used to build a healthier, fairer and more sustainable school food system that works for every child in every school.”

Key recommendations from the five-year evaluation include:

• Clear standards deliver results when schools are supported and progress is monitored. Practical guidance, active support from senior leaders and clear expectations and oversight enable schools to consistently meet school food standards and deliver meaningful improvements for children.
• The biggest and most sustainable improvements happen when school food is treated as a whole school priority. Nourish demonstrates that positive food cultures – embedded across leadership, classrooms, catering and the wider school day – lead to calmer environments and children who are more ready to learn.
• Local coordination significantly strengthens outcomes and reduces pressure on schools. When schools are backed by engaged local authorities or dedicated school food support roles, improvements happen faster, reach more children and are sustained beyond the life of the Nourish programme.

The government has identified school food as a key pillar of its plan to support children and families, and Nourish aims to demonstrate how clear standards, backed by the right support, can help ensure public investment delivers maximum benefit for children.

The Plates for Change initiative, delivered in collaboration with We Are Futures and The National Schools Partnership (NSP) network, will see Key Stage 4–6 pupils (ages 7–11) learn about the impacts of hunger and why nutrition matters.

Alexandra Rutishauser-Perera, Director of Nutrition and Health at Action Against Hunger, said: “Good nutrition is fundamental to a child’s ability to learn, grow and thrive. By helping pupils understand the realities of hunger and the part they can play in addressing it, this initiative builds knowledge that endures well beyond the classroom. Plates for Change offers a practical, engaging way to spark that awareness while strengthening children’s understanding of what good nutrition means for them and for communities around the world.” 

Schools interested in taking part in Plates for Change can access the campaign’s suite of curriculum-aligned resources by registering through the NSP website. The resources include lesson plans, presentations, and activity worksheets designed to help teachers spark meaningful discussions both in the classroom and at home about the power of nutrition. The lessons will guide students through topics such as: how hunger affects people in the UK and worldwide, what healthy eating looks like in different countries and the impact nutrition has on sleep, learning, growth, energy, and emotions.

Registered primary schools will also be invited to take part in a nationwide competition to create their own ‘Plates for Change’. Students will use their creativity to design plates that tell a story about hunger, showcasing what they have learned in the classroom. Entries will be independently judged by a panel including representatives from Russell Hobbs and Action Against Hunger, as well as experts in food and drink with schools competing for prizes worth up to £1,750 – all while raising awareness and inspiring action on this important issue.

Discussing the educational campaign, Robyn Milner, Global Brand Partnerships Manager at Spectrum Brands, said: “Our Plates for Change campaign aims to kickstart conversations in classrooms and at home, helping children understand the link between nutrition and wellbeing. Russell Hobbs is proud to play a part in providing nutritional education inspiring creativity, and we look forward to seeing schools engage and share their designs.”

1. How to win the picky eater dinner time battle

Professor Greta Defeyter, Director of the Healthy Living Lab at Northumbria University, has been awarded an OBE in recognition of services to education.

Professor Defeyter has spent the last 20 years researching how meals and enriching activities can be, and are being, provided to millions of children across the UK through schools and community organisations.

Her work has significantly influenced the Department for Education’s rollout of a National School Breakfast programme and funding of the Holiday Activities and Food programme for children and young people across England.

She established the Healthy Living Lab in 2006 to investigate the impacts of school breakfast clubs on children’s health, social and educational wellbeing. Working with Kellogg’s, the Greggs Foundation and Blackpool Council between 2008 and 2019, her research demonstrated that breakfast clubs can improve school attendance and punctuality, motivation, social relationships, educational attainment and quality of life for many children.

This evidence has supported the nationwide expansion of breakfast clubs over the past fifteen years. In September the Chancellor announced a £315 million free breakfast club programme that would provide free school breakfast clubs in all state-funded primary schools next year.

Recognising that school holidays brought difficulties for many families, Professor Defeyter expanded her research. Her evaluations of holiday clubs and city-wide holiday programmes evidenced the need for the UK government to alleviate holiday hunger and ensure that children and young people were offered nutritious food and engaging activities outside of term time as well as during the academic year.

As a result, in 2021 the government announced that up to £220 million was being made available to local authorities across England to fund the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.

HAF and the new HAF Plus programme, which has been co-designed to make it more engaging for older children, provide activities and healthy food to nearly one million children and young people during the school holidays each year. The HAF Plus framework has also been adopted by supporting organisations, such as Kitchen Social, funded by the Mayor’s Fund for London, and has been implemented across all London boroughs.

More recently, Professor Defeyter has been researching broader issues around poverty, school meals, and the Healthy Start Scheme. Through her work with national charities, schools, supermarkets, and caterers, she is currently advising the UK and Scottish Governments on developing national strategies and policies to eliminate the need for food banks. This includes the introduction of Affordable Food Clubs and Cash First Plus programmes; both designed to maximise household income and improve dietary intake and overall wellbeing.

The Order of the British Empire (OBE) is awarded to those who have made a significant impact in the arts, sciences, charitable work and public service.

Professor Defeyter said: “I am both delighted and astonished at being awarded an OBE. To be recognised in this manner for my research with children, young people and families is a humbling experience.

“Most importantly, I would like to thank all the organisations, local authorities, charities, children, young people, parents and carers who trusted me, and worked alongside me to conduct this research that has enabled societal change.

“Finally, I wish to thank all my research colleagues within the Healthy Living Lab for all of their support in conducting the research that has made a difference to millions of children and young people. I thank you all!”

Professor Andy Long, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University, said: “We are delighted to see this recognition for Greta and her work. It is clear that her research over the last two decades has informed and influenced government decision making which has led to a positive, and meaningful, impact on the lives of children and families across the country.”

Professor Defeyter has already received several accolades for her work. In 2006 she was named as a Children’s Food Hero by Sustain, following notable award winners, Jamie Oliver and Ed Balls. In 2015, she was made a Fellow of the British Psychological Society in recognition of her research with children living in areas of social and economic deprivation, and in 2020 she was named as one of the country’s top 100 change makers by the Big Issue for her research and policy impact on childhood food poverty in the UK.

She has a number of executive roles and fellowships with organisations. These include being an executive member of the North East Child Poverty Commission, a Fellow and incoming President of the Health and Food Council at the Royal Society of Medicine, and Chair of Feeding Britain’s Academic Advisory Board.

Professor Defeyter will formally receive her OBE at a ceremony later in the year.

FareShare takes donations of surplus food from across the food industry and redistributes it throughout its network to 8,000 charitable organisations nationwide.

In just 12 months of working together, the partnership has already impacted almost 1000 charities across the UK and supported FareShare’s mission of ensuring no good food goes to waste. This includes a large number of charitable organisations that are working with people experiencing homelessness, working with children and young people, supporting asylum seekers and older people’s community groups.

As well as this, the donations from apetito have helped to drive down some of the environmental impacts associated with food waste, saving an estimated 48 tonnes CO2e.

Lee Sheppard, Director of Corporate Affairs, Policy and Sustainability at apetito spoke on the importance of this partnership to the business:

“We feel passionately about addressing the challenge of food waste and are committed to ensuring our surplus ingredients and meals support organisations doing incredible work for those who really need it.

“We are proud to have established this partnership with FareShare and to be making a real difference to communities and charities across the country.”

Simon Millard, Director of Food at FareShare said: “We are really pleased to see how this partnership has built in the last 12 months and are grateful for all the food donations from apetito that have been distributed through the FareShare network.

“It’s important to us to work with partners that share the same values: ensuring edible food goes to people to eat, instead of going to waste. These charities we provide surplus food turn this into meals, providing a gateway to vital support services, strengthening communities across the UK.”