How the York Free School Meal Pilots Extended to Ten Additional Primary Schools Will Support Local Families and Boost Learning

Ever tried to solve a tricky maths puzzle or write a brilliant story when your tummy is rumbling? It’s pretty tough. That feeling of being hungry can make it hard to focus on anything else. Well, some fantastic news from 12 February 2026 shows that a brilliant local initiative is being expanded to help make sure more primary school children in York can start their day with a full stomach, ready to learn. Over the next three years, a whopping 170,000 free breakfasts will be served up across the city, all thanks to a major expansion of the free school meals programme.

So, what’s the big news?

The whole thing is being powered by the York Hungry Minds campaign, a project set up to give a helping hand to families and tackle disadvantage, especially during these challenging times. From the summer term, special pilots offering free school breakfasts will be rolled out for invited children at ten more primary schools. It’s a huge step forward that shows real support for the local community. These new pilots are a testament to the power of collective action and the commitment of the City of York Council.

The ten new schools joining the breakfast pilots are:

• Haxby Road Primary

• Hob Moor Primary

• Tang Hall Primary

• New Earswick Primary

• St Lawrences Primary

• Poppleton Road Primary

• Woodthorpe Primary

• Osbaldwick Primary Academy

• Stockton on Forest Primary

• Lakeside Primary

These schools will join three others in the city that are already part of this amazing free school meals scheme. Westfield Community Primary School already offers free lunches to older pupils, while Burton Green Primary School and Fishergate Primary School are already running successful breakfast clubs. This expansion means the positive effects of the campaign can reach even more young people in York.

Why is this such a brilliant idea?

Think about it. A good breakfast doesn't just stop your tummy from rumbling. It’s like fuel for your brain. The York Hungry Minds campaign was created because lots of evidence shows that when children have a healthy meal to start the day, it makes a massive difference. It can improve their concentration in class, which means they can get more out of their lessons. It also has a big impact on school attendance – making it easier for kids to get to school on time and ready to go. This initiative is about more than just food; it's about improving the overall wellbeing of every child.

This whole project is a key part of the Council’s bigger plan, called 'One City for all', which is all about making sure everyone in York gets a healthy and happy start in life. Providing free school meals helps level the playing field, fighting back against the kind of disadvantage that can hold kids back. It’s a practical way to offer support to families who might be finding things a bit tough at the moment. The campaign directly addresses the pressures many are facing, making a tangible difference in the local community.

A real team effort for the city

What makes this story even better is how it has all come together. These breakfast pilots haven't just appeared out of nowhere. They are possible because of the amazing generosity of people across York. The funding has come from two main places: the City of York Council has funded the lunches at Westfield, while the free breakfasts are being paid for by donations made to the York Hungry Minds Appeal. This appeal is managed by a charity called the Two Ridings Community Foundation, which helps connect people who want to give with brilliant local causes.

It just goes to show what can be achieved when a whole community gets behind an idea. The success of this free school meals initiative is down to a partnership between the local council and the people living in the city. These donations are directly funding the pilots that will boost the wellbeing and concentration of so many primary school children and ease the burden on their families during challenging times.

What are people saying?

Cllr Bob Webb, who is a key figure at the council for children's education and also chairs the York Hungry Minds group, is clearly delighted with the progress. He explained: “Being able to offer free school meals to children at ten more primary schools across the city is a fantastic achievement for the York Hungry Minds campaign and for York as a whole.”

He went on to say: “Local and national evidence shows the positive impact universal free school meals have on pupils’ attendance and behaviour. We hope that our work and the generous donations of people and organisations across the city will help to ensure that all our children have a great, healthy start to their school lives. I’d like to thank everyone who has donated in whatever way, for supporting this pioneering initiative. The York Hungry Minds campaign really is helping to change children’s lives.”

It’s not just the organisers who are thrilled. The headteacher at one of the newly included schools shared his excitement too. Matt Brown, Headteacher at Osbaldwick Primary Academy, said: "We are thrilled that Osbaldwick Primary Academy has been selected to join the York Hungry Minds pilot next term. Providing a nutritious meal at no cost will ensure every child is ready to learn and thrive, whilst offering vital support to our families during these challenging times." This highlights just how much this will mean to the schools and the families they serve.

Anyone wanting to learn more about the research or discover how to contribute can find information on the Two Ridings Community Foundation website, which is collecting donations to support these vital free school meals pilots.