We caught up with Amy Locke, one of our PhD students, after her presentation at the ADR UK Conference in Cardiff, where over 500 delegates from around the world gathered to explore how administrative data can improve lives.
Speaking in the Education, Early Years & Readiness session, Amy shared insights from her study, “Investigating the impact of Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) on the health and wellbeing of primary school children in Wales: An evaluation using linked data.”
After the session, we asked Amy a few questions about her experiences presenting at the conference, her research, and what she hopes comes next. We also asked what it was like to present alongside other researchers working in similar areas.
What motivated you to study the impact of UFSM on children’s health and wellbeing in Wales?
Having a background in both healthcare and education, I’ve seen firsthand how children’s wellbeing is shaped by the support they receive. Universal Free School Meals felt especially important to study because it brings together health, education, and equality. In Wales, this offered a unique opportunity to explore whether the policy could improve not only children’s nutrition and overall wellbeing but also provide evidence to strengthen access to healthy meals across schools.
What are your main findings so far from the evaluation?
Our mixed-methods research shows small but positive changes in children’s nutritional intake, particularly an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption. Both children and parents value UFSM. Children enjoy mealtimes as social opportunities, while parents highlight reduced stress, financial savings, and greater willingness from their children to try new foods at school.
What was it like presenting alongside other researchers at the conference?
It was an excellent opportunity to share my work, connect with other researchers, and see how our findings fit into the wider conversation on children’s health and education. I was encouraged by the growing interest in the impact of food provision in schools, and it was especially rewarding to see other academics take an interest in my research.
What’s next for this work?
The next step is to build on these findings by looking more closely at how UFSM influence children’s experiences over time, including the wider impacts on wellbeing, social outcomes, and play. I’m also keen to explore the experiences of children with special educational needs to ensure barriers to access are identified. The goal is to generate evidence that can inform policy and support schools in creating healthier, more inclusive environments.
Amy’s work will provide valuable evidence to help inform decisions about school meals and wider policies that support children’s health and wellbeing in Wales and beyond.