free school meals | Schools Week

London free school meals expansion hasn’t boosted attainment – evaluation

But researchers warn short-term effects ‘difficult to detect’ as families report positive impacts on finances and stress

City Hall yet to work out what it will save on its own scheme from the government’s expansion of free school meals

Report warns of a ‘postcode lottery’ of take-up, with some vulnerable families struggling with the sign-up process

But the education secretary rejects ‘barefaced lie’ as Tories claim schools could lose £1.5bn

1.2% increase is far below predicted rises in food and wage costs

Make-up of children who receive free lunches becoming ‘more diverse and uncertain’ as a result of government policies and demographic changes

But funding still lags far behind the actual cost of providing meals in schools

Calls for a review of disadvantage measures and support after analysis reveals full scale of challenge for leaders in the toughest schools

Stephen Morgan reveals ‘live conversation’ in government over potential future ‘interventions’