Expanding free school meals: a cost benefit analysis
We commissioned PwC to undertake the most ambitious analysis to date into the societal and economic benefits of increasing free school meal provision in England.
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Children's health and food
Expanding free school meals: Exploring the wider economic benefits
We commissioned PwC to undertake wider economic contribution analysis into the expansion of free school meals in London and England.
In October 2022, Impact on Urban Health published a cost benefit analysis of the expansion of free school meals (FSM) in England. This analysis presents an update to that piece of work, estimating the wider economic contribution of expanding free school meals (FSMs) across primary and secondary schools for scenarios within Greater London and across England.
Whilst the October 2022 report was focused on the benefits to direct beneficiaries (i.e., eligible children and their households) with respect to improved health outcomes, educational attainment and employment, this report focuses on the wider contribution stimulated by the supply chain activities from expanding FSM.
More from our children's health and food programme
Children's health and food
Children's health and food
Expanding access to free school meals – a leap forward for child health
Louise Foreman and Nikita Sinclair, Portfolio Managers, Children’s Health and Food programme, explain why we should expand free school meals for all.
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Children's health and food
Serving up children’s health
Opportunities and barriers in the school food system to prioritise nutritious food for our young people
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