Wandsworth Council Expands Free Breakfast scheme to 40 Primary Schools
Moving to address food insecurity in London schools, Wandsworth Council yesterday announced that free breakfasts will be available at 40 primary schools in the borough starting this September. This expansion, costing £320,000 annually, extends a pilot scheme launched in January last year.
The initial programme, run in collaboration with the charity Magic Breakfast, has already shown positive results. More than 3,000 children across 20 primary schools currently benefit from the initiative, receiving nutritious breakfasts each morning. A recent council report highlighted the success of the pilot, noting improvements in student punctuality, readiness to learn, and overall hunger reduction.
Addressing food insecurity
The council anticipates that an additional 20 primary schools will join the scheme, aligning with its new school food strategy designed to address food insecurity amid the ongoing cost of living crisis. The strategy aims to provide a consistent source of nourishment for students, which is increasingly critical as the number of children eligible for free school meals in Wandsworth has surged. In January, this figure reached a record high of 9,460, representing 29% of the borough’s maintained and academy school population—up from 17% in 2019.
Government support for cost of living
During a finance committee meeting on 17th July, the council approved the extension of the programme to all interested primary schools for the upcoming academic year. Conservative councillor Peter Graham raised questions regarding future funding, given the government’s plans to introduce free breakfast clubs in all primary schools. Gary Hipple, head of schools support, assured the committee that the council would adjust its scheme accordingly if the government’s proposals are implemented. “We’d need to see the detail and look at when and how that could replace our programme or we complement and integrate,” Hipple stated.
The committee also allocated £187,000 for the continuation of the programme in the 2024/25 financial year, with a full year budget of £320,000 planned for 2025/26. A final decision on the extended funding will be made by the council’s executive on 22nd July.
Labour councillor Annamarie Critchard expressed strong support for the initiative to address food insecurity in London schools, saying, “This seems absolutely fabulous and it seems like a very small investment in order to help children learn and learn well.”
Following the UK general election in July, local authorities will be watching closely for the announcement of similar national plans from the new new Education Secretary.
This initiative is a part of Wandsworth Council’s commitment to addressing child hunger and supporting educational outcomes. More information about applying for the scheme can be found on their website.
