Wandsworth (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Wandsworth Council will expand free school meals to hundreds more secondary pupils from September 2025, aiming to ease child hunger and support families.
With this idea, all secondary school students who qualify for Wandsworth‘s Access for All program will receive a free school lunch. Previously, only children whose parents earned less than £7,400 were eligible, but once students return to school in September, the council is greatly increasing the number of eligible youngsters.
By giving students a free, wholesome lunch throughout the school day, this adjustment will relieve financial strain on families while promoting students’ wellness and concentration in the classroom.
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 read to learn, it makes such a difference to the school day.”
Families might save up to £500 per child over the course of the year thanks to the expansion. The move comes after Wandsworth’s School Uniform Support Scheme was recently expanded to include families who are now qualified for the council’s Access for All program. To assist with the cost of uniforms, the program offers vouchers worth £45 for kids beginning Reception and £170 for kids beginning Year 7.
Wandsworth is dedicated to addressing food insecurity and advancing the health and welfare of children. In collaboration with Magic Breakfast, the council recently extended its free breakfast club program from 20 to 40 primary schools, providing a healthy start to the day for thousands of kids. This strengthens Wandsworth’s continuous efforts to guarantee that no kid goes to school hungry.
Judi Gasser, Cabinet Member for Children, said:
“We know the difference a good meal makes, not just for children’s health and wellbeing, but for their ability to learn as well.
Expanding free school meals to more secondary pupils is an important step in making sure every child has the support they need to thrive. Wandsworth is a great place to grow up. No child should be excluded from the benefits because they’re going hungry.
We’re proud to lead the way in providing this vital support to families across Wandsworth.”
Another parent added:
“This is the kind of real, practical help families like ours need. Free school meals might seem small, but they make a huge impact. It’s one less thing to worry about and it helps our child thrive.”
Through initiatives like Access for All, the School Uniform Support Scheme, and the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) program, Wandsworth Council has demonstrated its broader commitment to equity and opportunity, which includes this extension. Wandsworth Council’s Access for All Fund is funding the expansion of free school meals, and council tax will not be increased in any way.
What is the expected impact of the expansion on childhood poverty in Wandsworth?
The expansion of free school meals (FSM) eligibility in Wandsworth is expected to have a positive impact on reducing childhood poverty by providing increased nutritional support and helping alleviate food insecurity among hundreds more secondary school children.
Given that 17.2% of children under 16 in Wandsworth live in poverty, with many families facing low income and financial hardship, expanding FSM access directly targets one critical aspect of child deprivation—adequate daily nutrition during school.
Free school meals help stabilize children’s health and well-being, which supports better educational outcomes and can reduce immediate financial stress on families, allowing resources to be allocated to other essential needs.