The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, today announced £130m would be made available to ensure all primary schoolchildren in the capital can receive free school meals.
The one off emergency funding, which will cover the 2023/24 academic year, is set to help around 270,000 primary school children and save families in London around £440 per child across the year.
Research by the Local Government Association (LGA) has estimated that 800,000 children who live in poverty are not entitled to free school meals because their household’s income is just above the eligible £7,400 annual income threshold.
Mayor Khan said that he had ‘repeatedly’ called on the Government to provide free school meals to help already stretched families, but they had ‘simply failed to act.’
‘This is why I’m stepping forward with an emergency £130m scheme that will ensure every single primary pupil in the capital receives free school meals,’ he said.
‘This will save families hundreds of pounds over the year, ensuring parents aren’t worrying about how they’re going to feed their children. It will also guarantee every primary school student a healthy, nutritious meal – meaning they don’t go hungry in the classroom and can better concentrate on their studies.’
Responding to the announcement, Anna Taylor, executive director of The Food Foundation, said: 'We welcome the timely and decisive leadership shown by Labour’s London Mayor to protect families from the soaring cost of living.
'This initiative at last recognises the crucial importance of Free School Meals in safeguarding children’s diets, health and learning.'
