Agenda item

Report ED15067

The Portfolio Holder introduced a report outlining progress made within Bromley Schools to implement the Free School Meals for Infants Programme.

On 17^th September 2013, the Government announced that every child in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 in state funded schools would receive a free school meal from September 2014, for which revenue funding of £2.30 would be provided for each meal taken by pupils who were newly eligible for free school meals as a result of the policy.  Meals for pupils who were eligible for free school meals under the current criteria would continue to be funded through existing arrangements.

The Local Authority had been allocated £386,780 capital funding for Local Authority Maintained schools and £30,824 for Voluntary Aided schools for 2014/15 to ensure they were able to deliver this new requirement.  As all Bromley primary schools had kitchens capable of providing a hot meal, the capital funding would be utilised to address significant issues with school kitchen sufficiency and infrastructure across the Borough.  The Local Authority had employed a consultant to undertake a sufficiency audit of the kitchen provision in Local Authority Maintained and Voluntary Aided schools across the Borough to identify and prioritise kitchens that required capital investment.  The outcome of this audit was received in June 2014, and Officers were working with the Bromley Primary Consortium Group and individual schools to agree capital allocations.  Schools permanently expanding as part of the Borough’s Basic Need Programme that were both accommodating additional pupils and having to comply with the Free School Meals for Infants Programme would receive additional support through the Basic Need Programme.

In considering the report, a Member queried if Bromley schools were on track to deliver the Free School Meals for Infants Programme from September 2014.  The Head of Strategic Place Planning confirmed that the sufficiency audit of the kitchen provision in Local Authority Maintained and Voluntary Aided schools across the Borough had identified a range of equipment needs for schools, but that all Local Authority Maintained and Voluntary Aided schools were expected to be able to deliver the Free School Meals for Infants Programme from September 2014.

Another Member asked whether there would be a need for additional staff in some schools to support the delivery of the Free School Meals for Infants Programme.  The Head of Strategic Pupil Place Planning confirmed that school meals were delivered in a range of ways at schools across the Borough, but the average cost of school meal in Bromley was £2.05 per meal.  The Government had allowed a funding envelope of £2.30 per meal which would provide schools with additional funding to support delivery of the programme through additional staff or equipment.  Many schools would also benefit from the opportunity to purchase kitchen equipment through their catering providers.

A Co-opted Member underlined a range of difficulties that some Reception-age children might experience with accessing free school meals, as they might be unfamiliar with the food served or the use of cutlery, and noted that some schools might consider providing additional support for these children.  The Head of Strategic Place Planning advised Members that the Bromley Primary Consortium Group was working to share best practice on the management of the lunchtime period, and that schools should ensure the right support was in place for children who might experience difficulties.

A Co-opted Member was concerned that the funding process for academies and free schools in Bromley was different to Local Authority and Voluntary Aided schools, with assistance provided by the Academies Capital Maintenance Fund, and that children attending these schools might be disadvantaged through the funding formula.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to agree the allocation of £386,780 Universal Infant Free School Meal Capital Grant to schools based on the outcome of the specialist consultant’s reports on school kitchen sufficiency.