The capital’s chief executive has said his scheme offering cost-free lunches at educational institutions has delivered almost £50 million in aid for pupils from struggling households across the metropolitan area.
The proposal put forward by Sadiq Khan, which gives free lunches to every youngster at state-funded primary schools from autumn 2023, has identified more than 20,200 learners who were not previously recorded as being eligible for help. This sits alongside the £500 per child, per year, that guardians have saved since the scheme began, according to figures released by the mayor’s administration.
The funding derives from the central administration’s pupil premium scheme and allows schools to buy extra resources and offer targeted help to learners from financially struggling families.
Mr Khan said providing no-cost meals each day to children in the capital’s state primary schools has changed circumstances for families, pupils, and school staff members.
These nourishing lunches are helping learners get the most out of their education while supporting households across the city, and it is encouraging that the programme has helped secure almost £50 million in extra funding for deprived pupils. This is allowing schools to provide specialist assistance and easing the financial burden on families as the city works towards a fairer London.
The Greater London Authority partnered with local councils to simplify and improve the pupil premium application process, which relies on free school meal eligibility.
Previously, some schools missed out on this money because not all eligible families were found or helped with completing the necessary forms. Following this fresh approach, 28 boroughs uncovered more than 20,200 learners who had not been registered before.
This has brought in £25.9 million in pupil premium funds plus a further £19.9 million through Ever 6 funding, which supports schools based on pupils who have signed up for free school meals over the past six years.
Simon Hogg, head of Wandsworth Council, said the borough has introduced innovative steps to ensure every child entitled to support is identified and can benefit.
As well as widening local eligibility rules, the council has improved its systems and introduced methods such as automatic registration, enabling it to find over 1,100 more children qualifying for free school meals, including 438 in January alone. This has produced over £2 million in additional funding for local schools, helping them offer targeted support for deprived pupils.
According to the mayor’s office, the money has improved services for learners with special educational needs and disabilities, alongside help for coaching schemes, breakfast clubs, after-school activities, and staff training.
The scheme has also helped guardians secure council payments for school uniforms. The free school meals policy has so far supplied over 115 million lunches to primary school children across the capital.
Mr Khan has pledged to keep the scheme running for the duration of his time as mayor.
Louise Nichols, executive head of LEAP Federation Schools in Hackney, said pupil premium funding makes a huge difference to LEAP Federation schools’ capacity to help the most deprived children and their families in Hackney.
The mayor’s backing for universal registration is an efficient, practical initiative that is increasing school funding and improving prospects for children across London.