London schools could face having to plug a £39 million shortfall in funding after Sadiq Khan pledged to extend free school meals to all primary pupils in the capital next year, analysis suggests.
The Mayor of London’s £130 million announcement has been lauded as “life-changing”. Khan said it would save families “hundreds of pounds” when universal eligibility is extended to pupils in years 3 to 6 from September.
But the amount of funding for the scheme, which is only guaranteed for one year and does not extend to secondary schools, has been criticised.
City Hall said 270,000 more children would benefit – working out at around £2.54 per meal – with money coming from “additional business rates income” – itself a one-off windfall.
Last year, the National Education Union estimated the true cost to a school of providing a hot meal for a primary pupil, once rising costs are factored-in, was £3.30.
