The Mayor of London is proposing to spend £140m in his 2024/25 budget to extend free school meals for another year from September.
The proposed new funding will see boroughs offered £3 per meal to help to continue to deliver the meals from September. This is 18.5% higher than the amount they receive from Government, who previously increased its funding from £2.41 to £2.53 per meal this year following the Mayor’s ‘unprecedented intervention’.
Chef and campaigner Jamie Oliver: "Huge kudos to Sadiq Khan for extending free school meals across London for another academic year. Not only will it help families make ends meet, but evidence proves that children having access to delicious, nutritious food at school is the foundation of their wellbeing and educational success.
“It’s more than just nourishing their bodies – it's a fundamental support system that significantly impacts their future. At a time when so many families are struggling financially, supporting free school meals has never been more vital. It’s a lifeline for children, providing the nourishment they need to thrive, despite these challenging times."
Chef Tom Kerridge: “This is great news for so many parents feeling the pressure from the cost-of-living crisis. No child should go hungry because their parents cannot afford to buy them lunch. This latest announcement from the Mayor of London will reduce the burden on parents and carers across the capital, hit hard by rising costs, it is really good news.”
Naomi Duncan, chief executive of Chefs in Schools: "We’re delighted to hear that the Mayor Sadiq Khan is extending universal primary free school meals. We’ve seen first-hand the huge benefits this policy has had since its introduction. By extending the programme, the Mayor is ensuring that hundreds of thousands of children in London continue to receive the benefits of a hot, nutritious meal every school lunchtime.
“The initiative was a landmark moment in the fight for greater access to vital nutrition for young children, never more important than now in the context of rapidly increasing malnutrition and food poverty. A meal in school provides that nutritional safety net, but also fuel for learning and a vital opportunity for education about food.”
Anna Taylor, executive director of The Food Foundation: “We are delighted that primary school pupils across London will have access to free school meals for another year. This investment will make a meaningful difference to improving children’s health, wellbeing, educational attainment and school attendance by guaranteeing them a nutritious and filling lunch each day.
“The continuation of this vital lifeline will come as a considerable relief to many families on the verge of breaking point and ease some of the pressure on tight family budgets. As the transformative potential of free school meals is being increasingly recognised at local level, we are calling for the scheme to be expanded nationwide. Hundreds of thousands of children across the rest of the country are living in poverty and yet still do not qualify for a free school meal.
“Every child unequivocally deserves access to healthy, nutritious food regardless of where they live. As we approach the 2024 general election and metro mayoral election, we urge all national political parties and metro mayors to pledge to do what’s right and ensure that no child in England is left to go hungry at school.”