85,000 kids in South London set to receive free school meals

By Noah Vickers, Local Democracy Reporter

New figures reveal how many children are set to benefit from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s upcoming free school meal programme in each borough.

Up to 85,000 primary school pupils in South London, and 287,000 across the capital, are expected to receive free lunches through the £135million programme, which will operate on a universal basis and run throughout the 2023/24 academic year.

The highest single number of children to benefit in South London are found in Bromley where 13,321 pupils will receive the meals.

The borough with the fewest expected recipients in the capital is Kensington and Chelsea, with just 2,539 children anticipated to get the lunches.

City Hall says that thanks to the policy, families will save “upwards of £440 per child”.

The Government already provides free school meals on a universal basis for children up to and including Year 2.

After that point, the Government only provides lunches to children from households receiving certain benefits.

For households on universal credit, they must earn less than £7,400 a year – after tax and not including benefits, and regardless of the number of children in the family – in order for their children to be eligible for the meals.

The lunches administered through the mayor’s scheme will therefore provide for children in Years 3-6.

Five London boroughs – Islington, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Westminster – all currently provide universal free school meals for all primary school children

City Hall said that funding is still being allocated to the five boroughs as if they were not currently providing the meals – with the intention being that they can use the funds to support other means of helping families with the cost of living crisis.

Mr Khan said: “I know from personal experience what a lifeline free school meals can be, which is why I’m determined to do all I can to help families across London who are struggling during this escalating cost-of-living crisis.

“I’m proud that hundreds of thousands of children will benefit from the unprecedented funding when they return to school after the summer holidays, and that parents in every borough will know their children are receiving a good meal at lunchtime.

“By ensuring children don’t go hungry in the classroom and helping their families, we can build a better and more prosperous city for all Londoners.”

City Hall said at the time of announcing the policy: “This is one-off funding from additional business rates income. Sadiq is clear that he is only able to provide help that should be coming from the Government for one year.”

Pictured top: Mayor of London Sadiq Khan pictured on a visit to his old school, Fircroft Primary in Tooting (Picture: Noah Vickers)