A Hull City Council pilot scheme to automatically identify and register eligible children for free school meals has helped ensure 750 additional pupils are now receiving the support they are entitled to.
The auto-enrolment pilot, launched earlier this year, was designed to make it easier for families to access free school meals without the need for a separate application. The scheme has proven a major success – increasing uptake across the city and helping Hull’s schools secure more than £1 million via Pupil Premium funding for the 2025/26 academic year.
The free school meals auto-enrolment pilot scheme identified and registered 613 primary school pupils and 113 secondary pupils who were eligible but not previously claiming, with the remainder being early years pupils.
The team behind the pilot is now recommending that the process is repeated every year to ensure that pupils new to school, or those who become newly eligible, are supported quickly.
Cllr Linda Tock, Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People at Hull City Council, said: “This is a fantastic outcome for families and schools in Hull. By simplifying the process, we’ve made sure more children are accessing nutritious meals every day, while also securing vital Pupil Premium funding to support their education. It’s a great example of how we can use data and teamwork to make a real difference to local families.”
The council’s evaluation shows that free school meal applications rose significantly during the pilot – from 685 in 2024 to 1,093 in 2025 – well above the usual increase expected from new school starters alone. The new system was also more efficient, reducing pressure during the busy September period when schools and council staff prepare data for the autumn census.
Mary Meredith, Assistant Director Learning & Skills PSA at Hull City Council, said: “We’re proud of the collaborative effort that made this pilot a success. The benefits are immediate – more children getting healthy meals and more funding going directly to schools where it’s needed most.”
