A NATIONAL auto-enrolment system for all children eligible for free school meals to help reduce inequalities must be introduced, a think tank has urged the government.

From September 2026, an estimated half a million more pupils will be eligible for free school meals in England. 

Eligibility will be expanded to include all households receiving universal credit, removing the current restriction that limits access to those on the benefit receiving earnings below £7,400.

Research by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) has suggested that the government introduce a national auto-enrolment scheme to ensure all eligible families are registered, as parents currently have to apply.

The report said: “Despite this expansion in FSM (free school meals) eligibility, without further action from the government, children may continue to miss out on the free meals they are entitled to.

“The barriers to registration and differences in registration practices across local authorities means children still face inequalities in access to free meals.”

The report added: “In terms of barriers families face in applying to FSM — including English as an additional language, stigma, confusion about eligibility — auto-enrolment would largely eradicate these issues.”

The research found that where a child lives or goes to school determines how hard it is for families to register for free school meals, and that in some areas, local auto-enrolment identifies entitled children without relying on parents sharing details or making an application.

Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “Moving to a national system of auto-enrolment would be the next logical step to ensure that everyone who is now eligible under the new criteria will actually receive a meal and the intended benefits.”

He added: “We see no reason why a national system of auto-enrolment cannot be established relatively straightforwardly.”

Last week, education minister Stephen Morgan told the Commons that the government would be working to make it easier for people to apply.

He said: “Making all children in households claiming universal credit eligible for free school meals makes it straightforward for parents to know whether they are eligible.”