More than a meal - An independent evaluation of universal primary free school meals for children in London

In 2023, the Mayor of London committed to providing free school meals to every primary aged child in state-funded schools in London. 

To document learnings from the roll-out of the policy, Impact on Urban Health commissioned two evaluations:

• a lived experience evaluation, carried out by CPAG in partnership with Reconnect London. This study gathered the reflections and experiences of children, families and schools. It focused on how the policy affects household finances, food security, family health and wellbeing outcomes and school life, from family and school perspectives.
• an implementation evaluation, conducted by ICF in partnership with Public Health Nutrition Research. This study collected data from schools, local authorities and caterers to identify and understand what helped them to implement the policy effectively and the barriers they faced.

Findings from the two evaluations are combined in this report, and form the basis of seven key recommendations for national policymakers.