Guidance and support for families
The Mayor knows that families are really struggling with the cost of living crisis right now. That’s why he’s decided to provide funding to expand the government’s existing Free School Meals offer. This means that all state-funded primary school children in London are now eligible for free school meals.
In 2023-24, the Mayor funded more than 43 million meals, providing families with a much needed safety net. The universal free school meals extension could save families over £500 per child per year.*
Every child deserves the chance to be able to grow up healthy and thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances. But for this to happen, children must be able to access healthy, nutritious meals. These meals will be a crucial lifeline to London families during such tough economic times.
As part of his cost of living package, the Mayor is also providing emergency free holiday meals to support Londoners. The programme has provided 12.3m holiday and weekend meals to low-income families in Year 1 of the Free Holiday Meals programme. We expect to deliver more than 10m holiday and weekend meals over Year 2 of the Free Holiday Meals programme.
Over two years, families which routinely pay for school lunches could save over £500 per pupil per year due to the Mayor’s UFSM programme.
It is assumed that on average school meals cost 13.25 per week (or £2.65 per meal) in 2023-24. The calculations for 2024-25 included projected population levels and inflation rates for that year.
Sources
- Pupil figures for 2023-24: the most recent available data on the number of KS2 pupils (Years 3-6) who are not eligible for the government’s free school meal (FSM) offering was collected from the Department for Education (see Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2022-23 – Explore education statistics – GOV.UK.
- Pupil figures for 2024-25: GLA City Intelligence’s demographic projections are used (see Trend-based population projections – London Datastore) to account for the fact that pupils aged 7-10 (roughly corresponding to the age cohort of KS2 pupils Years 3-6) will slightly decline.
- School meal costs: based on a meal cost of £2.65 the cost per week would be £13.25.
- Inflation rates: Office for Budget Responsibility’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook for March 2024, based on which food inflation is estimated at 2.5 per cent for the 2025/26 school year Office for Budget Responsibility’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook for November 2023 estimate food inflation to be 2.03 per cent (see Economic and fiscal outlook - March 2024, Office for Budget Responsibility).
How the scheme works
The government provides Universal Infant Free School Meals to all children in state funded infant school and to some older children that meet a strict eligibility criteria. The Mayor’s funding expands free school meals so that every child in a state London primary school has the offer of a free lunch.
Families across London are desperately struggling with the spiralling cost of living and are in urgent need of more support. We know that free school meals are good for children as they may be the child’s main source of nutritious food, and that they are better equipped to learn if they don’t go hungry. That’s why, in light of the growing pressures on families, the Mayor intervened to provide free school meals.
The Mayor’s programme is consistent with the government’s existing free school meals programme. It covers state-funded primary schools, special schools and pupil referral units, including faith schools, but not private or independent schools. Every child who attends one of these schools will be eligible for free meals under this scheme.
Your primary school children should automatically be enrolled to receive the offer of a free school meal. Your school should be in touch to ask for the information they need to plan the number of meals they need to prepare.
It’s really important that you still complete your school or borough’s registration form for government funded Free School Meals, in case your child is eligible for extra funding for their school from the government, worth £1,300 per year.
Those parents whose children already qualify for Free School Meals under the government’s existing offer must also continue to apply for Free School Meals as before.
Extending free school meals to children who do not currently receive it, potentially saves families upwards of £500 per child per year. Providing universal free school meals also removes the stigma associated with means-testing and helps improve take-up overall.
Food insecurity affects children’s wellbeing, with children from families experiencing food insecurity more likely to suffer poor mental health. Without a healthy school lunch, children struggle to concentrate and learn in the classroom. A free school meal will help all children to reach their potential.
Like with other free school meals, schools are expected to provide nutritious and balanced meals to children. The meals should meet the government's food standards, which make sure that children receive a variety of food groups and essential nutrients.
Please inform the school if your child has any specific dietary requirements, so appropriate arrangements can be made for their meals.
We hope you will take up the offer of support to your family but you are still able to send a packed lunch for your child if you would prefer. Policies on packed lunches are set by individual schools.
No, the scheme only provides an expansion of free school meals within London state-funded primary schools.
The Government has permanently extended free school meal eligibility to children in all households with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), subject to maximum income thresholds.
Families should note that income thresholds are higher within London. Guidance on eligibility and income thresholds is available on the Government's website.
Families with no recourse to public funds who wish to register for free school meals should apply directly to their child's school. The school will assess and process the application in line with the Government guidance.
Schools are recommended to make proof of NRPF status as easy and flexible as they can. If parents are unable to provide evidence, they should be able to self-declare to the school to gain access to free school meals. The Children’s Society offer support and guidance to schools.
Continuing to register for government Free School Meals
Your child will receive their free school meal under the Mayor’s scheme automatically, but it's really important that you still complete your school or borough’s registration form.
This will check if your child is eligible for extra funding for their school from the government, worth £1,300 per year.
In some boroughs and schools, there are also extra entitlements you might be eligible for, such as support for food in the school holidays.
Find more information about how to register for government free school meals on your borough’s website, or by contacting your school.
How the Mayor is supporting Londoners with the cost of living
Find out what support is available to help you manage the cost of living in London.
The Mayor of London has made emergency funding available to extend food provision to those who need it most over the holidays, in partnership with Mayor’s Fund for London and The Felix Project.
We champion the London Living Wage, which ensures that workers are paid a fair wage that covers the cost of living.
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