Of particular note is the fact that the universal pilot approach improved outcomes among children from less affluent families: it increased the take-up of school meals among pupils who were already eligible for free school meals before the pilot was introduced and it had positive impacts on diet among these pupils. School staff in the qualitative case studies also noted that the pilot had a ‘levelling effect’ on the quality of lunches eaten by pupils from different backgrounds; the implication was that while the quality of packed lunches varied considerably by socio-economic background, all pupils taking school meals had access to a nutritious, balanced meal, thus reducing socio-economic differences in the quality of food eaten at lunchtime.