London's universal primary school meals delivering 'more than a meal'

Since September 2023, the Mayor of London has been funding the expansion of healthy school meals for all primary schools in London, building on the national government Universal Infant Free School Meals programme.

Impact on Urban Health commissioned two organisations - the Child Poverty Action Group and Reconnect London - to conduct independent first-hand experience research with children, families and schools involved in the programme. It also commissioned further evaluation from ICF and Public Health Nutrition Research, gathering data from schools, caterers and local authorities on the process of implementation, to gather lessons learned, and inform future practice.

The findings reveal that much more than simply 'feeding hungry children', the programme has had a positive impact on family finances, the relationships between schools and parents, the mental wellbeing of pupils and the ability of families to purchase healthier food at home. 

• 84% of parents reported that the policy has helped or significantly improved household finances, with those living on low incomes benefitting the most.
• 31% of parents reported improvements to their child's mental wellbeing, and also alleviated financial stress for adults.
• 55% of parents reported their children were trying new foods since introduction of the policy, rising to 63% in families in receipt of Universal Credit.
• 35% of parents said their child was enjoying school more, whilst children directly reported having more energy and feeling "stronger and healthier" as a result of having hot school lunches.

School leaders also reported that the policy had reduced the need to chase parents for payment of "dinner money debts", not only alleviating the administrative burden for their staff, but also improving relationships with parents that had become strained or awkward due to the issue. 

Since the policy was introduced, an estimated 88-90% of primary school pupils took school lunches across all three terms of the first year of implementation (based on 259 primary schools surveyed). For pupils previously eligible for means-tested FSM, uptake also rose from 88% to 94%.

However, the evaluation also revealed that not every child in each school had been able to benefit, in some cases due to special dietary, medical or religious needs that school catering is still not meeting. Parents also reported that the financial relief from not having to purchase school meals or buy food for packed lunches was undermined by rising costs of other bills such as transport, energy or food at home. 

Nikita Sinclair, Co-Head of the Children’s Health and Food Programme at Impact on Urban Health, said:

“The evaluation shows how Universal Primary Free School Meals in London are already making a meaningful difference not only to family finances, but to children’s health, wellbeing, and school experiences by providing access to nutritious food.  It is clear that while these positive outcomes are being felt by all families, those living on low incomes have benefited most. However, the findings show that more needs to be done to ensure every child has the opportunity to benefit fully, in particular the most marginalised. We need committed action from government to address existing barriers and ensure school food meets the needs of all children to make free school meals an accessible, consistent part of every child’s school day.”

Responding to the report, Children's Food Campaign Manager Barbara Crowther says:

"School meals have superpowers that go way beyond just the food on the plate. When school meals are funded properly and delivered in an inclusive and nutritious way, there are ripples of additional social, economic and levelling benefits in terms of children's physical and mental wellbeing, as well as wider family financial and health impacts. It's clear that this programme has also helped schools reduce the demoralising administrative burden of chasing after struggling families in the current debt-ridden means testing system.

Now that the Government has committed to the healthiest generation of children, as well as a new child poverty strategy and breaking down the barriers to opportunity, we need bold actions to deliver the practical change. This report's rich insights provide a clear path on why expansion of healthy school food across the whole of the UK, not just in London, should be part of these plans." 

The report makes five key recommendations to the Government, including the Child Poverty Taskforce and those working on the forthcoming Child Wellbeing Bill:

1. Eligibility for free school meals should immediately be extended to all children in households receiving Universal Credit. The Government should commit to a pathway to universal FSM.
2. Increase the per meal funding rate to £3.16, based on calculations in the recent Cost of a School Meal report and make funding allocations simpler.
3. Set up a fund to clear existing school meal debt.
4. DfE should introduce a national School Food Quality Assurance Scheme (and update the School Food Standards)
5. DfE, DWP and HMT should work together to introduce nationally coordinated auto-enrolment for free school meals within three years.

Read the full report here.

Read the summary report here.