Wed, 09 Jul 2025

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 School meal costs mean less meat and smaller portions, caterers say

A 3p rise in free school meals funding is "almost an insult", school caterers organisation LACA says.

* School children are receiving less meat, cheaper ingredients and smaller portions in their lunches due to rising costs.
* The new chair of school food organisation LACA, Michael Hales, said schools are struggling to bridge the gap between government funding for free school meals and increasing costs.
* The government has announced it will expand free school meals, but Hales said this is "welcome" but more funding is needed to support schools.
* A spokesperson for the Department for Education (DfE) said the expansion of free school meals is a "historic step" to tackle child poverty, but the meal rates paid to schools are under review.
* LACA's annual cost of living survey found that the real cost of delivering a meal is £3.45, which is £1.04 more than the current rate of £2.41 per meal.
* The survey also found that 67% of responding schools had increased the price of meals for pupils not eligible for free school meals by 20% since March 2020.
* Parents and teachers are calling for more funding to support schools in providing healthy, balanced meals for their children.
* Schools in London, Wales and Scotland have higher rates of government funding for free school meals than those in England.
  >>