Free breakfast scheme for twice as many Wandsworth school children

Thousands more children will benefit thanks to an expansion of the council’s free breakfast scheme from 20 primary schools to 40.  

Wandsworth works with the charity Magic Breakfast to run the project – part of its School Food Strategy to tackle food insecurity and make sure all children have access to nutritious, fresh food.

Kate Stock, cabinet member for children, said: “We believe that every child, whatever their background, has a right to decent food, and that no child should be expected to attend school on an empty stomach.

“We know that levels of food insecurity in London are rising. Our work with Magic Breakfast means children can receive a free breakfast without having to face barriers or stigma. It is one of the ways we are creating a fairer borough for everyone.”

The expansion comes after a successful year-long pilot. More than 3,000 children received a free breakfast each day – nearly 60 per cent of the children in each school.

More than 90 per cent of schools said it had a positive impact on children’s readiness to learn, and 82 per cent of schools said it improved attendance and punctuality. All the schools surveyed agreed that the breakfast pilot had eased pressure on family finances.

Comments from Wandsworth parents include: “Sometimes I don’t have much food in, so it is good my child can go to school and have some food” and “Breakfast Club has made things so much easier for our family. The children are now at school on time every day, fully fed.”

Children said: “It gives me energy and then I don’t feel hungry when I’m in class” and “We live much further away from school now and travel really far, there is no time to eat. Now we eat at school and I’m not starving when I’m learning.”

Ninety-five per cent of Wandsworth schools are good or outstanding. Other support for eligible Wandsworth families includes supermarket vouchers during school holidays, free school uniforms and automatic enrolment for free school meals.

The Wandsworth Connected Holiday Activity and Food Programme is a comprehensive package of activities and a free lunch for children on free school meals. Find out more about activities this summer holiday.   

And the Access for All scheme offers free and reduced-cost access to sports and leisure facilities, including the Tooting Bec Lido.

Find out about all available support for Wandsworth residents on the Cost of Living Hub.