Hello, Londoners! If you have little ones in primary school, then listen up! The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has just announced that free school lunches for primary school kids will be extended for another year. How fantastic is that?

Mr. Khan has pledged a whopping £130m for the 2023/24 financial year, with plans to increase it to £140m for the following year. He’s absolutely thrilled to be able to continue this wonderful initiative for another year. What a hero!

Families across London can look forward to saving up to £1,000 over two years for each child, which will be a huge help as everyone struggles with the rising costs of living. It’s a real lifeline for many families out there.

Currently, all children at state schools in England are entitled to free school lunches from reception up to Year 2. And for Year 3-6 pupils from households receiving eligible benefits, they are also entitled to free lunches under existing government rules. But here’s the exciting part – Mr. Khan’s plan covers every other London pupil not already included in the government funding. That’s a whole lot of kids getting a good feed!

Of course, not everyone is on board with the idea. Some people think it might not be the best way to help out those who need it the most. Critics argue that allocating funds instead for breakfasts for disadvantaged pupils would be a better way to target those in need.

The director of youth education charity, Impetus, Steve Haines, has voiced concerns that this universal approach might end up hurting the most deprived children. He believes that the unintended consequence could end up disadvantaging the kids who really need the extra help.

On the other hand, there are supporters for the cause, including celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver and Tom Kerridge, who have praised Mr. Khan’s plan. However, it’s not just chefs who support it – campaigners have also been backing the initiative.

And finally, it wouldn’t be a complete story without a bit of political talk, would it? Susan Hall, the Conservative candidate for London’s mayoral election, has promised to keep the free school lunch policy in place until at least the 2024/25 school year if she gets elected. So, it seems like there’s widespread approval for free school lunches all round!

All in all, it’s wonderful news for London’s kids, and it’s heartwarming to hear that there’s so much effort being put into making sure everyone’s little ones are getting a good meal at school. Let’s hope that this will make a real difference for families all across London!