Nearly a quarter of households with under-fives in food poverty
Education Policy Institute analysis finds the risk is particularly high for single parents and families with a disabled adult, and calls for free meals for all pre-school children.
At a glance
households with children under five in food poverty
- Nearly a quarter of households with under-fives in England are in food poverty, the Education Policy Institute (EPI) found.
- The rate rises to 51 per cent for single parent households with children under five.
- The EPI's recommendations, which are proposals rather than policy, include free meals for all pre-school children in registered settings.
Nearly a quarter of households with children under five in England are in food poverty, according to analysis by the Education Policy Institute (EPI).
The findings were published on 6 August by the EPI's Early Years Observatory. They show these households face higher rates of food poverty than households with older children or no children.
What the research found
The EPI found that food poverty affects:
- 24 per cent of households with children under five
- 39 per cent of households with children under five and an adult with a disability, compared with 31 per cent of those with older children
- 51 per cent of single parent households with children under five, compared with 39 per cent of single parents with older children
The EPI used the latest government survey data, collected in 2024 to 2025, and focused on England.
A household counted as being in food poverty if it reported problems such as worrying that food would run out, or adults skipping meals.
The analysis measures households, not children directly. The EPI noted that parents often reduce or skip meals to protect their children.
“It is deeply concerning that for single parent households with children under five the rate of food poverty increases even further to one in two.”
Free meals in the early years
The EPI said free meals for nursery children are only available in standalone state-maintained nursery schools and school-based nurseries. Most children attend other types of setting.
It noted that from September 2026, eligibility for these free meals, as for free school meals, will extend to all children whose parents receive Universal Credit.
The EPI also said parents using their funded early education hours can face costly top-up fees for meals and snacks.
Its recommendations to government, which are proposals rather than policy, include:
- free meals for all pre-school children attending registered early years settings
- as a first step, free meals for all pre-school children whose parents receive Universal Credit, whatever type of setting they attend
- widening the Healthy Start scheme to include four-year-olds and raising its income threshold so more families qualify
For your setting
What this means for your setting
Tick things off as you go. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Does this apply in Scotland? This analysis covers England only.
Want stories like this every Monday?
One email with the week's news for your nation and a short list of things to do.
Sources
Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will put it right.
Hubba Training
Keep your whole team up to date
- 56 short courses written for early years, in England and Scotland editions
- A certificate the moment each person finishes
- A training matrix that shows who is in date
On Premium. No card needed.
