Schools in some parts of London will have to meet any funding shortfall for the mayor’s extension of free meals to primary pupils, but councils in other areas will front up the difference.
Several boroughs told Schools Week the £2.65 per meal allocated by Sadiq Khan’s office for the scheme falls short of what’s needed, with little time and no extra money available to upgrade facilities and increase staffing for the September rollout.
Although the funding on offer is more than the £2.41 currently paid by central government for infant meals, our analysis suggests the funding plans will still leave a shortfall of £33 million across London.
While some boroughs have welcomed the investment and even pledged to top up funding to cover the meals, others have warned they will not be able to do so if it falls short. It suggests the investment will have an uneven impact across the capital
