Primary head teachers in Lewisham have warned that increases in the cost of living are creating real pressure on the budgets of both schools and parents to provide warm and healthy meals to pupils.

Both food prices and Government assistance have continued to fall behind inflation and schools are now also facing pressure to provide a high quality of food.

In June 2022, the Government increased the funding for free school meals from £2.34 to £2.41.  The decision was heavily criticised as the seven pence increase was only a third of the rise in inflation, leaving schools to cover the remaining amount. 

Caroline Phillips, Headteacher of Barings Primary School in Lewisham told Eastlondonlines: “They give us £2.30 per meal but the meal costs currently £2.59. This [the cost of the meal] is due to rise to £2.60 – £2.70. The school is having to make up the difference from its already very tight budget.” 

This week, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced a new initiative, currently being trialed in 18 councils around the UK, which would see additional checks on the quality of food being served and ensure support to schools to “comply with the existing School Food Standards”. 

Yesterday, the FSA also warned that the cost of living crisis could become a public health crisis as more families face food poverty, saying that school dinners are now an important safety net.  

According to Government data, 1.6 million pupils in reception, year one and year two, are currently on free school meals in the UK. 

Professor Susan Jebb, chair of the FSA said: “Schools play a crucial role in providing children with healthy food to help them concentrate and thrive in the classroom and beyond.”     

Ken Johnson, Headteacher of Deptford Park Primary School, welcomed the idea of stricter checks as “kitchens and caterers vary” but said the current concern facing schools was “finding the best possible quality, at the best possible price.”  

He added: “We make sure that the company dealing with our food meets the Food for Life standards and that children enjoy eating the food provided.” 

As free school meals and universal school meals only apply to infant classes, and are given to older children whose parents met the financial criteria, headteachers worry that some children will fall through the gap.  

Phillips said: “When the cost of living crisis kicks in, we expect to see less children having school dinners as the price increases. Parents will give them a packed lunch so some children may not have a hot meal all day.” 

On November 23, Lewisham Council declared a cost of living emergency with four out of ten households living in food or fuel poverty. They called on the government to fund free school meals during the holiday as well as term time.  

Between April 2021 and May 2022, the Trussell Trust handed out 14,928 emergency food parcels in Lewisham alone, with 5,435 going directly to children.  

The possibility of seeing children go without a hot meal is a concern that unites both teachers and parents alike. Khiara Tinotti, whose daughter receives free school meals, said: “I feel like this [amount the school has to pay] is why they cannot offer free school meals to all children. Especially against the crisis, it continues to be important that children of all ages are eligible to have a school meal”. 

Tinotti added: “From what my daughter tells me, every meal has at least some meat, some carbohydrates, whether it’s pasta or bread, and some veggies as well which is exactly what I give her at home. I mean the only thing I don’t give her every meal is dessert but that’s okay!”