Wandsworth (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Hundreds more Wandsworth secondary pupils will now receive free school meals daily under the council’s Access for All scheme, easing family costs and aiding focus.
The Wandsworth council is greatly increasing the eligible cohort as children return to school this September, and we will be contacting eligible families. Previously, only children whose parents earned less than £7,400 qualified.
Local parents have welcomed the expansion. One said:
“As a parent, this news is reassuring. Knowing our children will get a healthy meal at school means they go in calmer, and ready to learn, it makes such a difference to the school day.”
This offer expands on our efforts to guarantee that children begin their school day prepared to learn and that nutrition and healthy eating continue to be priorities.
More than 5,200 kids are now eating breakfast every day thanks to their continued collaboration with Magic Breakfast. Clear advantages are reported by schools, such as increased focus, attendance, and punctuality, as well as less financial strain on families.
Due to the program’s success, they are now inviting secondary schools to participate in the council’s autumn term scheme expansion.
Additionally, the Council expanded eligibility to cover all children entering Reception and Year 7, making it the most generous universal support program in the nation.
Vouchers worth up to £170 were given to qualified families, offering crucial assistance as kids enter these crucial years.
The Access for All School Trip Service was introduced by the Council in an effort to further level the playing field. By paying for transportation, the service helps schools plan field trips and guarantees that all kids, regardless of family income, can participate in worthwhile extracurricular learning opportunities.
Judi Gasser, Cabinet Member for Children, said:
“At Wandsworth, we believe every child deserves the very best start in life. By expanding our free school meal and uniform offer, we’re making a difference for families across our borough.”
Additionally, the Council is employing new data-matching procedures to find previously unaccounted-for youngsters who are eligible for free school meals. 705 kids have been identified so far, guaranteeing that they would receive a wholesome lunch each day and enabling schools to receive an extra £1.25 million in pupil premium cash annually.
In the meantime, the Apple Schools Program keeps expanding. Twenty elementary schools have benefited from top-notch technology, teacher preparation, and innovative resources like Apple’s Everyone Can Create and Everyone Can Code since 2022. Two SEND resource bases and six more schools will join the scheme for the 2025–2026 school year.
Support extends beyond schools, too. This summer, the Council announced a new partnership with Dolly Parton’s charity to give every child aged under five a free book every month until their fifth birthday. The Imagination Library is designed to nurture early literacy, ignite children’s imaginations and foster a lifelong love of reading in our youngest residents.
Judi added:
“These initiatives reflect our continued dedication to ensuring that every child in Wandsworth has the support, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive. We wish all our students, teachers, and families a happy start to the academic year.”
How is the Access for All Fund financing the expanded meals without tax rises?
The council has made the expansion a priority within its existing financial framework, finding savings and efficiencies elsewhere to fund the increased eligibility. This includes maximizing existing grants, partnerships, and government funding streams targeted at child welfare and education.
The fund pools resources from various departmental budgets aimed at supporting disadvantaged families and pupils. Investing in preventative welfare measures like free school meals is seen as cost-effective by reducing later demand on social and health services.
The council’s financial strategy emphasizes maintaining core services and support while avoiding tax increases, balancing priorities through careful budgeting.