Impact of London's free school meals revealed

London's universal free school meals programme has not led to improvements in pupil attainment during its first year, but has eased financial pressure and reduced stress for families, according to an interim evaluation by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF).

The report examined the first 10 months of Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s policy to provide free school meals (FSM) to all primary-aged children in London, which was launched in February 2023 in response to the cost of living crisis.

Researchers surveyed parents and headteachers, carried out interviews with families and observed lunchtime provision in 14 schools across London. They found that uptake among children newly eligible for FSM was around 90 per cent.

Families viewed the policy positively, particularly those just above the threshold for means-tested support. Of the 1,475 parents surveyed, 80 per cent said the scheme had helped their family finances, while 64 per cent reported reduced stress at home.

The EEF compared attainment outcomes for pupils in London who gained access to FSM with similar pupils elsewhere whose eligibility had not changed, but found no additional progress on average.

Researchers suggested this may be because the scheme had only been in place for one academic year, while key stage 2 SATs measure learning accumulated across the entire primary phase, making short-term effects difficult to identify.

Attendance rates also remained unchanged for 10- and 11-year-olds who became eligible for FSM compared with comparable pupils outside London.

Despite the lack of measurable attainment gains, the report highlighted a range of other benefits for children.

Pupils were influenced by what their peers were eating, encouraging them to try a wider range of foods. Teachers also reported that more children were eating together and socialising at lunchtime.

Among parents surveyed, 67 per cent said their child’s dietary needs were being met, while 82 per cent felt lunchtime provision supported their child’s SEND needs.

In 2023/24, the Greater London Authority funded meals at around £2.65 per pupil, higher than the national rate for means-tested FSM.

However, 44 per cent of schools said the cost of providing meals exceeded the funding received.

Researchers noted that some schools struggled to recruit and retain catering staff, while others lacked sufficient space or equipment to expand provision. Even so, the report concluded that most schools adapted successfully.