The Food Foundation response to the announcement today that the
funding of universal free school meals for state primary
schoolchildren in London will continue for the next academic year
(2024/ 2025) saving London families up to £1,000 per child as
cost-of-living continues to badly hit families across the
country:-
Anna Taylor, Executive Director of The
Food Foundation says, “We are
delighted that primary school pupils across London will have
access to free school meals for another year. This investment
will make a meaningful difference to improving children’s health,
wellbeing, educational attainment and school attendance by
guaranteeing them a nutritious and filling lunch each day. The
continuation of this vital lifeline will come as a considerable
relief to many families on the verge of breaking point and
ease some of the pressure on tight family budgets.
“As the transformative potential of
free school meals is being increasingly recognised at local
level, we are calling for the scheme to be expanded nationwide.
Hundreds of thousands of children across the rest of the country
are living in poverty and yet still do not qualify for a Free
School Meal. Every child unequivocally deserves access to
healthy, nutritious food regardless of where they live. As we
approach the 2024 general election and metro mayoral election, we
urge all national political parties and metro mayors to pledge to
do what’s right and ensure that no child in England is left to go
hungry at school.”
