TV chefs join Mayor to celebrate second year of free school meals for all London’s state primary schoolchildren

• More than 43m free school meals were funded last year, with up to 287,000 children benefitting 

• Families could save more than £1,000 per child over the first two years due to City Hall funded scheme, with support also available during school holidays  

• Sadiq reiterates that all children attending state primary schools in London will receive free school meals while he’s Mayor 

 

Chefs Tom Kerridge and Seema Pankhania today joined the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to celebrate the start of the second year of his unprecedented funding of free school meals – as Sadiq reiterated that all children attending state primary schools in London will receive the meals while he’s Mayor. 

  

Sadiq was joined by the TV chefs at Henry Fawcett Primary School in Lambeth, to mark the extension of his historic funding that last year delivered more than 43m meals to London’s schoolchildren, helping families across the capital. 

  

City Hall has invested a further £140m to continue the programme for a second year to ensure that all children attending state primary school in London are offered a free, nutritious meal. It is expected that up to 270,000 children will benefit this year and that families could save more than £1,000 over the first two years per child. 

  

Previously, children in Years 3 to 6 would only receive free school meals if they lived in households on Universal Credit earning less than £7,400 a year - after tax and not including benefits - and regardless of the number of children in the family.  

  

A report1 by the Child Poverty Action Group and the National Education Union has shown that providing all children free school meals has a wide range of benefits. It improves financial and psychological security for parents as they don’t have to worry about the cost of food at school, supports school engagement with improved concentration and engagement from pupils, and reduces stigma for children who would ordinarily get means-tested meals.  

   

The Mayor is committed to doing all he can to support families and is also providing £7.5m for meals for families during holidays and at weekends through his free holiday meals programme. More than 15.3m holiday and weekend meals have been distributed by The Felix Project and Mayor’s Fund for London via community organisations since the programme began in April 2023, and an estimated 3.7m more have been distributed over this summer holiday.  

  

The support is part of the Mayor’s wide-ranging work to help Londoners struggling as a consequence of the previous Government’s cost-of-living crisis. This includes funding London Citizens Advice and London Legal Support Trust to extend free advice and support services across the capital, supporting the capital’s first multibank to distribute a range of products to people in need, freezing TfL fares and investing £3.46bn into building the genuinely affordable homes Londoners need. 

  

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Funding free school meals for all state primary schoolchildren across London is one of my proudest achievements as Mayor, so I’m delighted that the programme is now entering its second year and reducing the financial pressure on families. By ensuring pupils don’t go hungry in the classroom, they can better concentrate on their studies and have the best possible chance to succeed. 

  

“I know from personal experience what a difference free school meals can make and I am determined to ensure that no child in the capital goes hungry. That’s why for as long as I am Mayor all state primary schoolchildren will be offered free school meals, helping to build a fairer and healthier London for everyone.” 

  

Chef Tom Kerridge said: “I was entitled to free school meals as a child, so like Sadiq I know how crucial they are. I’m delighted that all state primary schoolchildren in London are continuing to receive free school meals, removing the stigma on young people and the financial burden on families.”   

 

Seema Pankhania, author of Craveable, aka @seemagetsbaked, said: “I’ve grown up food obsessed and always loved school canteen meals. As someone who received free school meals I know first-hand how much of a difference they can make to families. I'm so happy that the Mayor has committed to funding free school meals for all state primary school children, and it’s been heartwarming to hear about the programme." 

 

Chef and campaigner Jamie Oliver said: “Happy birthday to London's free school meals! Committing to a second year shows Sadiq isn't just here for the headlines, he's serious about making long-term change to protect child health. And this is just one part of his bigger food revolution – from banning junk food ads to fuelling kids to learn, it’s all about making London a city that serves health, not sickness. So much has been achieved, and I can’t wait to see what’s next!” 

 

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall said: “If a child is hungry they cannot learn, which is why this funding from the Mayor is so important for children and families across London. By providing free nutritious school meals in all state primary schools, the Mayor is ensuring that no young Londoner goes hungry.” 

  

Dawn Persad, Headteacher at Henry Fawcett Primary School, said: “The Universal Free School Meals programme is incredibly important to our school and our community. For some of our children, our school lunches are the only hot meal they will eat all day. From our experience, we know that it has also substantially relieved financial pressure on families, particularly those families who are on the cusp of meeting the household income threshold. All children can access a nutritionally balanced meal (which can be difficult to achieve with a packed lunch regardless of your financial situation). All-in-all, we are delighted that more support has been given to our families and the children will benefit from a health and education perspective.” 

  

Charlotte Hill OBE, CEO of The Felix Project, said: “Sadly, for so many families across London, and the whole of the UK, covering the cost of feeding their children is incredibly stressful and so we welcome the Mayor of London extending universal free school meals for a second year. Giving all primary schoolchildren access to a free, healthy meal makes a world of difference. Not only can it alleviate a family’s food budget, it benefits the child themselves. Instead of being hungry or worrying about their next meal, they can focus on learning and enjoying school as they should.” 

  

Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “We welcome the return of the Mayor of London’s universal primary free school meals scheme, now running to its second year – and are delighted that this vital scheme has been made permanent in London.  

  

“Across the capital, children will continue to enjoy hot, healthy meals, families will benefit from much needed additional time and money this scheme will provide them with. Our members will be also be relieved to know that no child is going hungry in their classroom.”