Half of London boroughs face funding shortfalls for Sadiq Khan’s extension of universal free school meals to all primary school pupils, analysis suggests.
Funding for the £135 million initiative is based on an assumption that only 90 per cent of pupils will take up the offer of free meals.
However, Department for Education data for take-up of infant meals among pupils who would not qualify for means-tested benefits shows 17 of 33 London boroughs had take-up of more than 90 per cent.
Some councils had already warned that the funding rate – £2.65 per meal – was less than they actually spent on meals. Our analysis suggests the funding plans will still leave a shortfall of £33 million across London, which would be passed on to schools.
