Primary school children in London to receive free school meals from September

Every primary school pupil in London is to receive free school meals for the next academic year after Sadiq Khan put forward £130m worth of emergency funding.

The Mayor of London’s one-off proposal will run between September 2023-July 2024 in a bid to reduce pressures from the cost-of-living crisis.

It comes after prominent figures across hospitality, including chefs Tom Kerridge and Jamie Oliver, urged the government to extend the eligibility of free school meals to children on Universal Credit.

Khan’s scheme will help 270,000 primary children and save families in London roughly £440 per child over the next year.

He announced the emergency funding at his old school, Fircroft Primary, in London’s Tooting, where he himself received free school meals.

He said: “The cost of living crisis means families and children across our city are in desperate need of additional support. I have repeatedly urged the Government to provide free school meals to help already stretched families, but they have simply failed to act.

“I know from personal experience that free school meals are a lifeline. My siblings and I depended on them to eat while at school and my parents relied on them to give our family a little extra breathing room financially. The difference they can make to children who are at risk of going hungry – and to families who are struggling to make ends meet – is truly game-changing.”

Tom Kerridge commented: “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.”

Brad Pearce, chair of LACA, who are also known as the School Food People, added: “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.”