'My family relied on free school meals so I know the difference they will make'
As schools return this week following the summer holiday, hundreds of thousands of pupils in London are set to experience a very different lunch break. In a proud first for our city, every child in our state primary schools will be able to sit down with their classmates and enjoy a hot, healthy meal.
My brothers, sister and I relied on means-tested free school meals, so I know the difference they will make. However, I also remember the embarrassment of having to stand in a separate queue to receive them.
School meals for all will not only improve children’s health and ability to learn but also remove any social stigma. And at a time when food prices, hunger and poverty are all on the rise, this emergency intervention will help ease the burden.
Up to 287,000 pupils will benefit from our City Hall-funded scheme, saving parents upwards of £440 per child over the course of this academic year. Families in London have suffered under the 13 years of Tory failure - bills skyrocketing, public services crumbling and the highest tax burden on working people in a generation.
Parents won’t forget the days lost to strike action because the Government refused teachers a well-deserved pay rise for months, and our schools are shamefully being allowed to deteriorate to the point of collapse. In London, I’m demonstrating we can take action to tackle the cost of living crisis and give every child a helping hand to thrive in the classroom and realise their full potential.
Free school meals for all primary kids in London, says capital Mayor Sadiq Khan
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