Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has made an unequivocal promise to protect funding for Free School Meals (FSM) for every primary school pupil in the capital, despite a looming £19.2 million deficit in the Greater London Authority's budget.
A Landmark Achievement for London Families
The Mayor marked a significant milestone, announcing that his initiative has now served 100 million free meals to London's schoolchildren since its launch in September 2023. During a visit to Shoreditch Park Primary School, Sir Sadiq hailed the programme as a "huge success", emphasising its profound impact on families and educational outcomes.
The GLA has budgeted £147.5 million for FSM in the 2025-26 financial year, with this figure set to rise to £150.5 million the following year. This substantial investment represents approximately one third of City Hall's net revenue expenditure budget for various GLA projects.
Tangible Benefits for Children and Parents
The Mayor detailed the multifaceted benefits of the programme, stating that it provides an annual saving of £500 per child. He illustrated the impact for larger families, noting the significant difference this makes over multiple years.
Beyond the financial relief, the scheme has led to measurable improvements in the classroom. Children are attending school more regularly, concentrating better, and achieving more academically, according to the Mayor. He also highlighted a reduction in the stress faced by parents, who no longer need to skip meals to ensure their children are fed.
Teachers have reported an improvement in relationships with parents, a direct consequence of schools no longer having to chase school dinner debt.
National Changes and Future Funding
The commitment comes as the government prepares to roll out its own expansion of free school meals eligibility across the UK from next September. Under the new national policy, all households receiving Universal Credit will be able to access FSM.
This has prompted questions from the London Assembly's Budget and Performance Committee, chaired by Neil Garratt. He has sought clarification on whether the government's new entitlement will reduce the funding required for the Mayor's London-specific initiative.
In response, Sir Sadiq told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that his team would need to "wait and see" the full impact of the government's rollout before assessing its financial implications for the GLA budget.
Celebrity chef and campaigner Jamie Oliver praised the Mayor's achievement, calling the serving of 100 million meals "amazing". He underscored the long-term economic benefits, estimating that well-fed children could contribute an extra £40 billion to the economy over 20 years through better attendance, grades, and job prospects.
Concluding his visit, the Mayor was resolute: "As long as I'm there, this is a priority for me, as long as I'm there children who go to state primary schools will receive a free school meal."
