Jamie Oliver is backing calls for increased school meals funding to be included in the forthcoming budget.
The celebrity chef has joined forces with charity School Food Matters in urging the government to increase individual meal funding by 63p to keep up with Inflation.
A report commissioned by SFM and carried out by food consultancies Bremner & Co and Cohesion found the current funding rate of £2.53 per school meal was “63p below what needed”, making the true cost £3.16.
The report breaks this down by attributing a cost of £1.16 for the actual food, £1.66 to employ an appropriately skilled team, 32p for overheads, and 2p earmarked for quality assurance.
School Food Matters stated the funding gap had left schools “unable to cope” and resorting to relying on ultra-processed foods.
The report also calls for increased funding transparency, more efficient procurement, the creation of buying standards and a ring-fenced school food budget.
Oliver said the need for nutritious food was equal to “the need for pen and paper” for pupils to be able to learn in school.
“Good food lays the foundation for happier, healthier students, who go on to have brighter futures,” he added. “But this report shows it’s getting harder and harder to do. Schools simply aren’t getting the funding they need, and kids are missing out. They deserve better.”
School Food Matters founder and CEO Stephanie Slater said: “Ensuring children have access to quality nutrition is essential for their health and learning. Our report today shows that the current funding rate for school meals is outdated and insufficient to unlock the unique potential of our school food system for every child.
“While caterers and cooks in many schools continue to find innovative ways to provide healthy, nutritious and tasty meals, it’s clear that increasing financial pressures mean other schools cannot cope.”
“We urge the government, ahead of its first budget this month, to adopt our recommended school meal funding rate. This is a fantastic opportunity to set the tone and move closer towards Labour’s manifesto pledge of ‘creating the healthiest generation ever’.”
Earlier this year, the charity reported schools had been forced to dip into their own budgets to feed children, with over half a million children missing out on free school meals due to enrolment barriers.
No comments yet