Guidance and support for schools

Funding is issued at the borough level, and it is the responsibility of each borough to administer the funding to their schools including:  

• Local Authority maintained schools (including state funded Special education and alternative provision) and   

• Non-Local  Authorities maintained schools i.e. payment to Academy Trusts would be made by each Local Authority for Multi Academy Trusts in their area. 

The Mayor’s programme is consistent with the Government’s existing funding of meals.  It covers state-funded primary schools in London, special schools and pupil referral units, including faith schools, but not private or independent schools. 

We are currently funding the price per meal at £2.65. This is a single standardised offer across all boroughs. This is above the Government’s rate of £2.53 for Universal Infant Free School Meals.  

For the 2024-25 academic year, the price per meal will be increased. 

The funding allocations have been made with an assumed 90 per cent uptake. Boroughs will have the opportunity to secure additional funding if they are able to evidence that uptake of the scheme has been higher.   

The Mayor set aside an additional £5m for any extraordinary costs associated with implementation including specific access requirements for some groups of children in certain extraordinary and specific circumstances such as children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and pupils who may have specific dietary requirements in connection with their religion or belief. 

We have allocated funding to boroughs who already provided universal free school meals (USFM) to their primary pupils as if they were not currently providing this function. These boroughs have been encouraged to spend their freed-up funding on supporting families through the cost-of-living crisis. 

With the introduction of the Mayor of London’s expansion of universal free school meals, it is important to ensure that families continue to register for the Government funded Free School Meals to maintain pupil premium funding. To maintain or increase registrations, the GLA has produced best practice guidance which includes advice on communications messages to promote the benefits of registration for the schools, and how to adopt models where all parents are required to complete registration. 

How a borough or school chooses to promote registration is for agreement locally. The following is available to support local activities: 

• Learning on effective approaches shared through webinars and online. 

• Examples of messaging that have been used to good effect by schools and boroughs. 

• We will continue to encourage families to register in our pan-London communications.