Every primary schoolchild in London will receive free school meals in the next academic year. The ‘unprecedented move’ will help around 270,000 primary schoolchildren and save families around £440 per child across the year. Currently a household on universal credit must earn less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including benefits), regardless of the number of children in the family, to be eligible.
Research has shown that hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren live in poverty but do not receive free school meals due to the Government’s restrictive eligibility criteria. Khan, who received free school meals as a child, has repeatedly called on the Government to make meals available to all.
The majority of reactions were positive but some industry figures questioned the infrastructure of implementing it, why was it only primary schools and others suggested it should be a national policy.
The industry reactions include:
Matt White, chair of the Public Sector Catering Alliance: “Free school meals for every primary school pupil in London after Independent campaign. This is great news but lets hope there is money for infrastructure and staff costs too.”
Brad Pearce, chair of LACA: “We are delighted that all primary schoolchildren in London will receive a free hot, healthy and nutritious school meal for the next year. Too many children, both in London and throughout the country, are falling through the cracks. The announcement will go a long way, and we hope the Government urgently follows the actions taken by the Mayor of London.”
Chef Tom Kerridge: “All children deserve access to healthy, nutritious food and, at a particularly difficult time for many households and families, I’m pleased to lend my support to the Mayor’s initiative to ensure every primary school child in London has access to free school meals.”
Anna Taylor, executive director of The Food Foundation: “We applaud London’s Mayor for taking timely action to support families fighting the cost of living by ensuring every primary school pupil gets a nutritious lunch, no matter their background. This is a monumental step forward for safeguarding children’s diets, well-being and learning across the capital.
“However, outside of London, hundreds of thousands of children living in poverty still don’t qualify for a free school meal. Central Government must now honour its levelling up commitment by investing in free school meal expansion for every community in the upcoming budget. We know this policy has resounding support in every corner of the UK.”
Charlotte Hill OBE, chief executive of The Felix Project: “We know the need among parents is incredibly high, The Felix Project provides over 170 primary schools with surplus food and we currently have more than 130 on our waiting list.
“The school food banks are a huge help to parents, particularly for those who do not qualify for free school meals but are still really struggling with the high costs of feeding their children throughout the day. We welcome this scheme and the positive impact it will have on both parents’ finances and the children themselves.”
Dame Emma Thompson: “This initiative could not be more welcome or more timely. The fact that it is needed at all is testament to the damaging policies of the last 20 years. It is therefore essential that during this year we fight for the right of our children to a proper meal at school, un-stigmatised by the free school meals label which causes so much distress.”
Cllr Claire Holland, leader of Lambeth Council: “The commitment from the Mayor of London to fund meals for the next year is a welcome one which will go towards relieving pressure on families already struggling with rising costs. However, in order to provide reassurance to families it is critical that the Government commit to provide long term funding to ensure no child goes hungry.”
Zara Sultana, Labour MP for Coventry South: “Free school meals are going to be extended to all primary school pupils in London. Well done Sadiq Khan. Now to extend them to all primary school pupils in England (just like they’re doing in Scotland and Wales). That’s what my free school meals for all bill would do.”
Henry Dimbleby: “This is fantastic news. We set out the rationale for this in chapter 11 of The School Food Plan back in 2013.”
Steve Chalke, founder of Oasis: “Free school meals for every primary school child in London from next September! What a brilliant life changing, future shaping, health creating decision from the Mayor of London! As the research already proves it works, the wise move now would be to make it a national policy!”
Argyll & Bute Food: “I applaud the overall commitment to provide UFM, if this is for one year how can the infrastructure be improved to cope, or will catering teams, children and schools have to muddle through with insufficient capacity/equipment for 12 months? No commitment to pilot in Secondary?
“Are we sure that with food inflation continuing to rise that the funding being announced will be enough to really give this a proper, robust year-long pilot? This is good - but needs to be properly funded and evaluated. Would be good to learn lessons from devolved nations. Lots of detail still to understand- however the overall principle is encouraging.”
Wes Streeting, Labour MP for Ilford North: “Big announcement from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. A welcome opportunity to research the impact of free school meals on childhood health and nutrition and educational attainment - as well as being a welcome help for families struggling with financial pressures.”
Lindsey MacDonald, chief executive of Magic Breakfast: “Wonderful to see, support and recognition by Mayor of London that hunger costs children hours of learning. Pupils are also hungry in the morning and it doesn’t end at primary. That’s why Magic breakfast is calling on Jeremy Hunt to put breakfast on table.”