Free Breakfast Trial to Be Extended to all Borough Primaries
Children at 40 schools could benefit from the programme
Scheme will be adjusted if government introduces similar measure. Picture: Wandsworth Council
July 23, 2024
Free breakfasts will be offered to pupils at 40 primary schools in Wandsworth borough from September. A pilot scheme launched by the council in January last year is set to be extended to all primary schools that want to join, at a yearly cost of £320,000.
More than 3,000 children at 20 primary schools in Wandsworth now receive free breakfasts each morning as a result of the pilot scheme, run in partnership with charity Magic Breakfast, a report by council officers said. The authority expects another 20 primary schools to join the scheme when it is extended as part of its new school food strategy, which aims to tackle food poverty in the cost-of-living crisis.
The report said primary schools involved in the trial scheme have reported less hunger among pupils, better punctuality and a greater readiness to learn. It added the number of children eligible for free school meals in Wandsworth is rising and stood at a record high of 9,460 in January, which is 29 per cent of the borough’s maintained and academy school population – up from 17 per cent in 2019.
The council’s finance committee approved plans to extend the scheme to all primary schools that want to join from September, at a yearly cost of £320,000, on 17 July. Conservative councillor Peter Graham quizzed officers on whether the authority should approve the funds for 2025/26, as the new government has outlined plans to set up free breakfast clubs in all primary schools.
Gary Hipple, head of schools support, told the meeting the council could adjust its scheme if the government’s proposals move forward. He said, “We’d need to see the detail and look at when and how that could replace our programme or we complement and integrate.”
The committee green-lit proposals to set aside £187,000 in 2024/25 to extend the scheme for the rest of the financial year, along with a budget of £320,000 in 2025/26 to fund it for a full year. The council’s executive made a final decision on the plans on 22 July.
Praising the scheme, Labour councillor Annamarie Critchard said, “This seems absolutely fabulous and it seems like a very small investment in order to help children learn and learn well.”
Charlotte Lilywhite - Local Democracy Reporter