London to offer free school meals to all primary pupils for a year

[Eastie77Returns]

Reported in the Guardian and apparently will begin in September.

Two questions spring to mind: a) why is this only happening in London and b) wouldn’t it make more sense to target this and increase the ridiculous limit for free dinners (households with an income above £7k do not qualify) rather than giving every single child, including those from affluent families, free meals?

I was involved in campaigning for this (I run a food bank and a group of us shared data about need with City Hall), I'm very glad it's being implemented. For all the reasons others have stated but also because if everyone is offered these meals it may arguably reduce some of the stigma around food poverty.

To the person who mentioned food banks disparagingly - frankly, I agree with you. It's not efficient to have 1,000 small organisations soliciting donations from individuals via the supermarkets, then expending man-hours to process, sort, distribute etc the goods to people who need them, often not mindful enough of dietary requirements, preferences and the like. Sometimes with a fair amount of hoop-jumping from the people who need them. Lots of projects try to improve on this model in various ways, but it is woefully inefficient.

It’s really good this is happening and will hopefully show people some of the benefits of having Labour in power. My DC are a bit too old now but it would definitely have benefited me in the last few years.

@NewNameForXmas circumstances can change (like during COVID) so it is getting those parents that weren't eligible when their child first started school, that can be a challenge. Also some parents still feel the stigma of FSM

We have the same problem. DD hates school meals and claims they are awful. Most of her class bring in sandwiches.

Some children from lower income families who will benefit from the free school lunch might actually have preferred a a free packed lunch.

There are dietary restrictions that mean some can’t eat school meals so their families will still be paying for the packed lunch.

In my line of work when we are considering rolling out an large scale initiative we have to ensure we’ve fully understood the entire scope of the problem before applying a solution otherwise it isn’t fit for purpose. I just wonder how much thought has gone into this policy.

This thread really speaks to the challenges of making public policy.

This.

Personally I think it’s a fantastic initiative that goes a long way to reducing the stigma attached to free school meals.

I work in a school kitchen . I absolutely could not tell you which children are free school meals even though I serve them everyday
I have no reason to know and long gone are the days of having to collect your special ticket (ah the memories !!)

It's great news. Will save us ~£100 a month. I will be emailing my (Tory) MP to let her know that it's a disgrace our London mayor has had to introduce this while her party sit on their arses doing fuck all for struggling families.

Those of you with children who don't like the meals or the meals are bad have you suggested to the school they offer sandwiches?

Sorry I don't know if there are rules about what has to be served.

Hot meaks arent a requirement, but it says something like hot meals should be served when they can. So its seen as something to aim for.