Free School Meal pilots are currently running in three local authority areas; Wolverhampton, Durham and Newham.
Free School Meal pilots are currently running in three local authority areas; Wolverhampton, Durham and Newham. Universal free school meals for all primary school children are being piloted in Newham and Durham, whilst the eligibility criteria for those receiving a free school meal is being extended in Wolverhampton to target low income working families. Jointly funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (now the Department for Education (DfE)), the Department for Health and the Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts involved, the Trust is providing dedicated support, advice and guidance to the three pilot Local Authority areas.
The pilots began in September 2009 and will run for two years; an independent in depth evaluation will measure whether free school meals:
- reduce obesity / have an impact on a child’s BMI;
- change eating habits at home;
- impact on behaviour and academic performance at school;
- improve school standards; and
- improve general health and well being.
Although the pilots have been running for just a few months, there has already been some very positive feedback.
