Children aged three to 14 in Westminster will be given free school meals in what the council is claiming as the most ambitious scheme of its kind in London.
The announcement covering 14,000 children builds on the free lunch programme for primary pupils launched in January.
It will cover three and four year olds in all early years’ settings offering free entitlements and 11–14-year-old resident children at secondary schools.
Its additional investment of £2m will complement the existing Government free school meals offer and recent additional GLA funding.
In addition, two-year-olds who currently access the free early education entitlement will also receive targeted help.
Adam Hug, leader of Westminster City Council, said: ‘I am proud we can now offer 14,000 Westminster children the chance of a nutritious lunch.
‘I want Westminster to be a place where children can sit down together in the canteen without the anxiety and stigma of who can afford to eat.
‘That lunch may now be free for those children, but we think the impact it can have on their wellbeing and life chances could be priceless.’
