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Tianna Assing, Josiah Dunn, Nazmine Begum, Nicholas Stachinic, Shukri Yusuf, Lucas Tinivelli and Liban Hersi |
No such thing as a free lunch? Think again!
Politicians still bicker over the bill as pilot of free meals scheme is served up in six schools
DINNER ladies have been extra busy this week as the borough’s first trial of free school meals for all primary children began on Monday.
But the decision to pilot the scheme at six schools first appears to have caused some jealousy among parents at schools not yet included in the scheme.
All children at the chosen schools – Ambler, Clerkenwell, Christ the King, Laycock, New North Community School and Yerbury – are now eligible for free hot meals.
If successful, the policy will be extended to every primary in the borough.
The policy was forced on the ruling Lib Dems when Labour hijacked February’s budget meeting.
Islington Council leader Lib Dem councillor Terry Stacy believes the scheme could cost the borough up to £7 million – if the government withdraws all funding for parents who used to qualify for free meals – but Labour say their figures, calculated by the Town Hall’s own finance department, puts the real cost at between £2.8 and £3.1 million.
Cllr Stacy said: “It’s a badly thought-out back-of-a-fag-packet idea that takes no account of how much money schools will lose if they don’t have the best data.
“That’s why the pilot is the best way to make sure we have the capacity to gather the data to make sure the borough’s kids don’t lose the resources they deserve.”
Labour’s shadow education spokesman, Councillor Richard Watts said: “We’re really excited the scheme is starting. When people see what it’s like everyone will want it.
“It’s increasingly clear that Cllr Stacy is blocking the roll-out of this to more schools. I call on him to put the interests of other kids before his own political career and stop running this down.”
While politicians argue over the cost, headteachers have given the scheme a cautious welcome.
At Ambler Primary School, Blackstock Road, on Wednesday, where children tucked into a choice of lasagnes, salad, apricot flapjack and fruit salad, there was a sense of enthusiasm.
From the school’s population of 170 children, only 10 still take a packed lunch.
Mother-of-three Shephali Jahur, said her nine-year-old son used to have packed lunches because he didn’t qualify for free school meals.
But her son, who attends Ambler, can now switch to hot meals, which would have cost her £9 a week. She said: “It was expensive for us. It’s a big difference to me. I had to make his lunch every day. This saves time and money.
“It’s a very good idea. My sister says I’m lucky because her child is at another Islington school that is not in the trial.”
School cook Hawa Mansaray has been cooking more food and bringing in extra equipment and staff. She said: “It gives me pleasure when they come back for seconds – it’s a really good idea because everybody is eating well.”
Headteacher Juliet Benis said there were difficulties getting every parent to fill in a form to qualify: “We’re still chasing a few. It’s a big job for the admin staff but it won’t be such a big job next time.
“We’re glad we were chosen. We were the lucky ones. It makes a difference to parents – if you’ve got more than one child at school the coast adds up. It brings particular benefit to parents on the cusp, who don’t traditionally qualify for free meals.
“But whether spending a large amount of money for this will benefit people as much as spending it elsewhere in education, is debatable. It’s a time when funding isn’t strong.”
But Ms Benis said the scheme gave a break to parents who are in arrears with bills and that encouraging all parents to fill in the registration form has helped gather important data that can affect future funding.
Christ the King Primary head Paul Campbell said the school had seen a 20 per cent increase in pupils taking school meals this term, adding: “We have had a good response but if there’s a surprise it’s that there’s not as total a take-up, which we would have expected. There seems to be a clump of parents who have decided to keep with packed lunches.”
Mr Campbell said the school has staggered lunch times, and kitchen staff have invested in extra salad trolleys to cope with the demand.
Mary Gibson, headteacher of Yerbury Primary School, said: “It’s early days but there has been an increase in uptake. We’re pleased to be in the pilot and it’s very popular with the parents.
“There’s a feeling amongst some that maybe some parents can afford it so maybe it’s a waste of money in some cases but the majority of feeling is very positive. I’m just watching this space.”
The Town Hall is appealing to parents of pupils at the pilot schools, who have not yet completed a free meals registration form, to contact the school office as soon as possible. |
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