Decision details

Summary of Decision

The Cabinet Member for Children and Public Protection has approved the below recommendations:

·       £870,646 is to be allocated to nurseries in Westminster City Council to develop a universal meal offer based on £2.55 per meal to nurseries for academic year 2024-25

·       £694,260 is to be allocated to state funded secondary schools in Westminster City Council to enable them to provide a Free Lunch Offer to resident pupils in KS3 (Years 7-9) for the academic year 2024-25

·       That the Nursery and KS3 offers are made permanent on condition that the GLA continues to fund the universal Primary Free School Meal Offer.

·       The Cabinet Member for Children and Public Protection also accepts the GLA’s allocation which is still to be confirmed. The Council will transfer this to primary schools based on a £3 per pupil per day for non-FSM pupils so that schools are able to implement a free lunch offer for all school pupils.

Reasons for Decision

When the universal Free School Meal offer for children attending state funded Primary Schools was originally implemented, the Cost-of-Living crisis was one of the greatest challenges facing residents and it continues to be a high priority. In Westminster, around a quarter of households across the city (approximately 32,000 households) are particularly vulnerable to rises in living costs, with some people facing extreme hardship. The guarantee that children will have access to at least one meal a day is expected to improve the health and wellbeing for those currently experiencing food insecurity – bringing benefits for children’s growth and development and educational attainment, as well as mental health benefits for their families due to reducing concerns about food insecurity.