Mayor’s unprecedented free school meals programme helps to unlock almost £50m in funding to support disadvantaged pupils

• New analysis shows that the Mayor’s pioneering free school meals policy has helped to unlock almost £50m of funding to support disadvantaged pupils across London
• London schools can benefit from the additional funding from Government each year after more than 20,200 previously unregistered pupils of all ages were identified as eligible for support
• The Mayor has funded more than 115m free school meals for the capital’s state primary school children since September 2023

New analysis has revealed that the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan's unprecedented free school meals policy has helped to unlock almost £50m of funding to support disadvantaged pupils across London. This is on top of the financial support of £500 per child per year that families have benefitted from since September 2023.

The capital’s schools can now benefit from additional funding from Government each year allowing them to invest in extra resources and targeted help, after more than 20,200 eligible pupils of all ages were identified as not being registered for support their schools were entitled to.

All state primary school children in London have been offered free school meals since September 2023 thanks to the Mayor. More than 115m free school meals have been funded in that time, saving families around £1,500 over three years per child, as well as improving the health and wellbeing of children and positively impacting school communities.

As part of the Mayor’s programme, City Hall has worked with boroughs to simplify the process of applying for the Government’s pupil premium funding, which is based on free school meals eligibility. Previously some schools have missed out on this funding to support the education of disadvantaged pupils as not all eligible families were identified and supported to fill in the necessary forms. City Hall has required boroughs to have a system in place to ensure all eligible pupils are registered, helping secure millions more in funding.

New analysis today shows that this has helped to identify more than 20,200 previously unregistered pupils across 28 boroughs, unlocking £25.9m in pupil premium funding for schools from Government, as well as a further £19.9m in Ever 6 funding for school budgets, based on anyone who has registered for free school meals in the past six years.

This funding is enabling boroughs to invest in targeted support, including for those with special educational needs and disabilities, mentoring, staff training, breakfast clubs and after school clubs. It also helps parents access further support, including council grants to buy school uniforms.

Thousands more previously unregistered secondary school pupils are also now receiving Government-supported free school meals, after being identified as eligible. The additional funding of £3.4m for school meals is saving their families up to £500 per year, adding to the wider work that the Mayor is doing ensure that low-income families across the capital access the financial support that they are entitled to.

The Mayor’s free school meals programme has been shown to improve the lives of children and their families, not only by alleviating financial pressures on households, but also by positively influencing the health and wellbeing of children and strengthening school communities.

Sadiq has made clear that funding for his historic free school meals programme will remain in place for as long as he is Mayor and has welcomed the Government’s move to increase the nationwide entitlement to free school meals to all pupils whose household is on Universal Credit from the start of the next school year.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Delivering free school meals to children across London’s state primary schools every day has been a game changer for families, pupils and staff. These healthy meals are helping children to make the most of their days at school and supporting families across the capital, and it’s fantastic that our programme has helped to unlock almost £50m in further funding for disadvantaged pupils. This is helping schools to offer targeted support and easing the financial pressure on families, as we build a fairer and better London for everyone.”

Simon Hogg, Leader of Wandsworth Council, said: “In Wandsworth we’ve taken proactive steps to make sure every child who is entitled to support is identified and able to benefit. Alongside expanding eligibility locally, we’ve improved our systems and introduced measures such as auto-enrolment, helping us identify more than 1,100 additional children eligible for free school meals, including 438 in January alone. This has unlocked over £2m in additional funding for our schools, helping them provide targeted support for disadvantaged pupils. Alongside the Mayor’s programme, this work is making a difference to families, easing cost pressures and supporting children to do well at school.”

Louise Nichols, executive head of LEAP Federation Schools in Hackney, said: “Pupil premium funding makes a big difference to LEAP Federation schools in supporting the most disadvantaged children and their families in Hackney. It ensures not only that everyone gets access to high quality provision during the school day but also helps us to offer children and their families free after school clubs, trips and music lessons - activities that would otherwise be very difficult when schools are working to such tight budgets. The Mayor’s support around universal registration is a powerful, practical initiative that is boosting school funding and improving life chances for children across London."

Myles Bremner, CEO of Bremner & Co, said: “Ensuring every entitled child is registered for free school meals is about so much more than a hot lunch. Universal registration processes across London boroughs are unlocking millions of pounds in pupil premium funding for schools and making sure families receive the support they’re entitled to. We were proud to work with the GLA and Basis to help London boroughs design and strengthen their universal registration approaches, as well as capture the immense impact of these approaches. This project shows what’s possible when funding, expertise and local leadership come together, making a lasting difference for children in London.”