News

The current free school meals programme in London delivers meals to 287,000 primary children every day and it has funded more than 17 million meals between September and Christmas 2023.

Sadiq Khan commented: “I launch my manifesto, guided by my defining mission to make London the greatest city in the world to grow up in. Starting with this promise: if I’m re-elected on 2nd May I’ll make free school meals permanent for all state primary pupils in London.

“Free school meals have proved a lifeline during the worst decline in living standards on record. But they do much more besides. That meal can be the difference between a child realising their potential and falling short of it. That meal removes the shame of not having enough money to eat. That meal makes children feel equal."

All state primary school pupils in London are now receiving free school meals to ensure no child goes hungry in the classroom. The initiative saves parents up to £1,000 per child over two years.

The wider industry has welcomed the news:

Anita Brown, chair of LACA: "LACA were delighted to hear of the pledge from the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to permanently provide FSM’s to all KS1 & 2 pupils in London should he be re-elected. This underpins the importance of ensuring all students are offered a hot and nutritious meal every day, no matter what their circumstances are to ensure no child goes hungry and providing a solid foundation for their on-going future development."

Food campaigner Jamie Oliver: "Sadiq Khan has pledged to continue offering free school meals to primary schoolchildren, which is in my opinion a great use of London taxpayer's money. This is huge and part of what I’ve been working on for the past 20 years. Food in schools is as essential as exercise books - you can’t learn without it."

Sharon Hodgson MP: “High quality, hot, healthy and delicious school meals like those we enjoyed today in Parliament are a lifeline public service that has the power to improve the health, wellbeing and potential of millions of children in the UK - if only they have access to them. That is why policies like Sadiq’s that make school food universal and free at the point of access are the best tool in our arsenal to tackle child poverty and obesity.

“School food of this quality is a far cry from the semolina pudding and turkey twizzlers we may have eaten ourselves. These meals are held to strict nutritional standards that less than 1.7% of school packed lunches meet. Today (18th April) has been a great day for school food campaigners everywhere - as the tides turn and more people than ever call for great quality, accessible school food now.”

On the day of the announcement (18th April), LACA hosted their Great School Lunch event at the House of Commons that saw over 20 MP's enjoy a healthy and nutritious school lunch. 

During the event, LACA called for: 

• More funding to deal with the increased cost of food prices and of staff, the current situation is unsustainable, many caterers, particularly smaller and medium sized companies will find it difficult to continue operating, threatening thousands of jobs. LACA are calling for a minimum FSM value in England of £3.00 per meal (index linked).
• An extension of FSMs for all children whose parents are entitled to Universal Credit. 
• For funding for school meals to be ringfenced to ensure funding follows the child. The budget is currently issued to schools who do not always pass the full amount to the caterer to provide school meals.