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Free school meals policy is underfunded, say headteachers Free school meals policy is underfunded, say headteachers
(about 14 hours later)
Headteachers and local authorities say they are having to divert resources and funds from school budgets to pay for new kitchens as a result of the Liberal Democrats' underfunded policy of giving free school meals to all infants.Headteachers and local authorities say they are having to divert resources and funds from school budgets to pay for new kitchens as a result of the Liberal Democrats' underfunded policy of giving free school meals to all infants.
School leaders are reporting difficulty making the deadline of early September, because government funding is not enough to pay for the work required to cook more meals each day. While Westminster was enthralled by the eruption over the policy between Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg and former Department for Education special adviser Dominic Cummings – with accusations flying that Clegg wanted Cummings charged under the official secrets act – school heads say they have been left to fend for themselves in parts of the country.
The free school meals policy, to provide every four- to five-year-old with a free lunch, is at the heart of a coalition spat after Dominic Cummings, a former special adviser to the education secretary, Michael Gove, publicly accused Nick Clegg of disregarding official advice and announcing the policy last year without funding being agreed by the Conservatives. In Lincolnshire – a large, rural county with few commercial caterers to fall back on – the local authority has concluded that when the policy is introduced in September "it is clear that the county is likely to be under-resourced to meet need".
Lincolnshire's internal documents show a large shortfall in provision in parts of the county. The South Holland local government district in the south of the county was worst off with a forecast gap of 2,800 between pupil numbers and meal production, while West Lindsay district is short by almost 1,000.
"Lincolnshire is not in a good position," said the head of one school, who didn't want to be named. He is having to find more than £10,000 from existing budgets to prepare for the additional free meals for reception, year one and year two classes.
"The local authority said at a meeting with heads that they saw it as a series of races. One which is a sprint to get ready for September, and the marathon afterwards to make it sustainable. They want to spend the main amount of money from the government on the marathon. They didn't suggest how anyone was going to be able to make September work."
A teacher in rural Derbyshire said schools in his area had similar problems: "A school in London that has its own kitchens or providers close to it, those authorities seem to have got the same funding per capita as us.
"No one has looked at Derbyshire and said, it's a big rural authority, with schools with no kitchens, they are going to need £5m."
A spokesman for the DfE said: "Schools are receiving a huge amount of support to provide free school meals. We are providing £150m to improve kitchens and dining facilities, as well as an additional £22.5m specifically to help smaller schools to provide these meals."
In a joint article this week, education secretary Michael Gove and schools minister David Laws wrote: "At present the overwhelming majority seem to be on track and we are confident the policy will be delivered on time and on budget."
The ministers' confidence flies in the face of government calculations, uncovered last month, that said at least 2,700 school kitchens needed upgrades in order to be ready, and that 1,700 schools lacked a kitchen entirely.
In Bradford, the council is having difficulty finding the estimated £1.2m shortfall needed to upgrade equipment at 40 schools. The work may cost as much as £2.5m, but the Department for Education (DfE) is only providing £1.3m.In Bradford, the council is having difficulty finding the estimated £1.2m shortfall needed to upgrade equipment at 40 schools. The work may cost as much as £2.5m, but the Department for Education (DfE) is only providing £1.3m.
Ralph Berry, Bradford council's executive member for children's services, said the scheme lacked consultation between central and local government. "It has been dropped into our laps to try and make it work. The objectives are laudable but the timescale and implementation is nothing short of chaotic," Berry said. He said the shortfall in capital funding provided by government was a "long way short" and Bradford may have to raid budgets designated for other projects to meet the extra costs. Ralph Berry, Bradford council's executive member for children's services, said the scheme lacked consultation between central and local government.
In Leeds, a headteacher told the BBC he was having to divert funds from the school's computing and IT budget to pay for new ovens, freezers and cookers to cook for an extra 60 children each day. Stephen Watkins, the headmaster of Millfield school, said: "It makes me quite cross for the government to say this will happen and they are fully funding it. That's not right. The public should know they are not fully funding it." "It has been dropped into our laps to try and make it work. The objectives are laudable but the timescale and implementation is nothing short of chaotic," Berry said. He said the shortfall in capital funding provided by government was a "long way short" and Bradford may have to raid budgets designated for other projects to meet the extra costs.
The government has allocated £600m to pay for the scheme, but DfE officials have previously said there could be a shortfall because it was difficult to estimate the full costs.
The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) said that for the policy to succeed it was essential for schools to have kitchens and staff with the capacity to provide meals on a daily basis.The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) said that for the policy to succeed it was essential for schools to have kitchens and staff with the capacity to provide meals on a daily basis.
"We hope schools will be given the help and support they need to deliver such an ambitious and well-meaning project within a relatively tight timeframe, particularly at schools which may need adaptations and equipment to accommodate a meal service," said Russell Hobby, general secretary of NAHT. For many pupils their first experience of the policy will be cold lunches of sandwiches and similar prepared food, until kitchen improvements are completed, or through meals delivered by external caterers or at neighbouring schools.
But Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader who pushed for the policy despite opposition from Gove and DfE mandarins on cost grounds, has insisted the plan to give free lunches to all state school pupils in reception, year one and year two will go ahead on schedule.
"It is properly budgeted and it will happen. It is going to be a really, really important boost to families up and down the country. It will happen in September and it will be of great benefit," Clegg said in an interview on Wednesday.
Clegg's confidence flies in the face of government calculations, uncovered last month, that said at least 2,700 school kitchens needed upgrades in order to be ready, and 1,700 schools lacked a kitchen entirely.
For many pupils their first experience of the policy in September will be cold lunches of sandwiches and similar prepared food, until kitchen improvements are completed, or through meals delivered by external caterers or at neighbouring schools.
In Worcestershire, the local authority said only 50 of 181 first, primary or special schools and academies in the county had fully operational kitchens able to cook hot meals. Of the 131 that did not have a full kitchen, the council said 126 would have some form of serving facilities so that meals could be sourced from outside caterers, leaving five still without any kitchen facilities at all.In Worcestershire, the local authority said only 50 of 181 first, primary or special schools and academies in the county had fully operational kitchens able to cook hot meals. Of the 131 that did not have a full kitchen, the council said 126 would have some form of serving facilities so that meals could be sourced from outside caterers, leaving five still without any kitchen facilities at all.
The Bishop Perowne performing arts college in Worcester has said it will need to purchase a new £14,000 oven to prepare the 400 extra hot meals it will provide to its primaries, St George's and St Barnabas, as well as additional hot plates, cutlery, crockery and storage space. The rushed implementation of the policy has also lead to fears that schools with a high proportion of pupils from low-income households could suffer, since their £1,300 pupil premium funding is tied to applications by parents for free school meals.
The spat between Clegg and Cummings continued on Thursday, with Clegg labelling Cummings as "peculiar" and the former special adviser tweeting back: "It's as if Clegg's become a Manchurian candidate controlled by enemies. Everything he does makes his situation worse." With children receiving lunches automatically, there is no incentive for parents to fill out forms for free school meals – and no alternative mechanism has been put in place.
The rushed implementation of the policy has also lead to fears that schools with a high proportion of pupils from low-income households could suffer, since their pupil premium funding is tied to applications by parents for free school meals. With all children receiving lunches automatically, there is no incentive for parents to fill out forms for free school meals – and no alternative mechanism has been put in place.
Local authorities say the impact on pupil premium funding – another Lib Dem flagship policy – had been clearly identified in pilot studies. With the pupil premium gaining £1,300 for each child, schools will need to contact eligible parents and persuade them to sign up.