The Mayor announced a £130 million programme to provide free school meals to every child in London’s state-funded primary schools during the 2023-24 school year [1].
He described the funding as “emergency funding” and noted that it would “help around 270,000 primary school children and save families in London around £440 per child across the year”.
The funding will pay for meals for pupils in years 3 to 6, as the Government already funds meals for pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2.
Some schools and boroughs expressed concerns about whether schools had the capacity and infrastructure to deliver the additional meals [2].
What have been the experiences of schools so far in implementing the programme? What has been the impact on parents and children?
For the second part of an investigation into child poverty in London, the London Assembly Economy Committee will meet tomorrow to examine the role of free school meals in supporting children living in poverty and the effectiveness of the Mayor’s free school meals programme.
The guests are:
- Councillor Jasmine Ali, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Refugees, Southwark Council
- Barbara Crowther, Campaign Coordinator, Children's Food Campaign, Sustain
- Daniel Kebede, General Secretary, National Education Union (NEU)
- Dr Katharine Vincent, Director, Reconnect London
- Joanne McCartney, Deputy Mayor for Children and Families
- Richard Watts, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Mayor
- Emma Pawson, Head of Health and Wellbeing and Programme Director for Free School Meals, Greater London Authority (GLA)
The meeting will take place on Thursday 9 November from 10am in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
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Notes to editors
- Mayor of London, Mayor announces every London primary schoolchild to receive free school meals
- Schools Week, Schools left to pick up the tab for London free meals scheme
- Full agenda papers.
- Marina Ahmad AM, Chair of the Economy Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Economy Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more information, please contact Emma Bowden in the Assembly Media Office on 07849 303897. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.