Pilot for universal free school meals in Southampton
January 22nd 2009
Alan Whitehead MP and John Denham MP have urged Southampton City Council to apply to take part in a pilot scheme to provide free school meals for every child in the city. The City’s two Labour MPs spoke out after Southampton was named as one of the 31 local authorities who would be invited to apply to join the scheme.
John Denham, MP for Southampton Itchen, said ”A pilot in Southampton would help us to discover whether offering free school meals has an impact on child health and obesity, behaviour and performance at school and eating habits at home. The pilots can help us to have a better understanding of the value for money of free school meals for all and test whether we have the current rules for free school meals eligibility right.“
Alan Whitehead, MP for Southampton Test said “We want to make sure that children, and especially those from disadvantaged homes, have access to a healthy hot meal every day at school. The Labour Government has made massive investment in school meals and introduced important changes to the quality of school food, including tougher nutritional standards in primary schools.”
Opposition
Both MPs said that they were worried that Conservative Council Leader Alec Samuels might let his own opposition to free school meals prevent the city taking up the Government’s offer of matched funding for the pilot. (Cllr Samuels has said on record that Southampton Conservatives do not believe in "free this and free that, eg swimming or transport, school means or computers or whatever it is")
Alan Whitehead said “We know that many disadvantaged children that are eligible for free school meals do not claim them. This offer from the government removes any stigma still attached to free school meals and is excellent value for money for local authorities who care about ensuring that all their children get at least one nutritious meal a day.”
John Denham said “Only three local authorities will be chosen as pilots. It would be a pity if Councillor Samuels’ political dogma prevented Southampton from even being considered.”
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More information about the pilot scheme
- Three local authorities will take part in the pilot with two areas testing the offer of free school lunches to all primary school children and a third area testing the idea of extending eligibility to free school meals.
- The pilots, which are due to start in September, will help test how free school meals impact on the education and health of children, and the Government hopes local authorities and PCTs will come forward to bid to take part in the pilots. Take up of school lunches is increasing in primary schools and these pilots will help collect more evidence about the impact of providing more school meals for free.
- Recent years have seen significant investment in school food – over £650m between 2005 and 2011. School meals are good value for money and the introduction of nutritional standards for school meals means that all children on school meals are able to eat healthily.
- Over one million children could already benefit from free school meals but too many children who are currently eligible do not claim their entitlement. A report published last week by the School Food Trust says that a fear of being singled out or stigmatised for eating free school meals, as well as the dining environment, are both key factors. This includes issues such as being embarrassed about family income and the decoration and atmosphere in the school dining hall.
- In parallel to the free school meals pilot work, the Government wants to increase take up amongst those children and young people currently eligible for free school meals. The Government wants to do this by improving schools’ understanding of the benefits of healthy eating, introducing new methods in the dining hall and working with parents to encourage children and young people to take up their entitlement.
- The Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Department of Health (DH) have jointly allocated £20m to the pilots over the next two years and participating LAs and PCTs will be expected to join the pilots on the basis of matched funding.