Southwark School Meals Transformation Programme

Secondary School Food Policy and Action Plan Support

Following the School Food Management training, we are offering free one to one support for food policy and action plans to be developed or delivered for your school. A School Food Policy and Action Plan support improving your school food environment for example, engaging with pupils. If you are interested in this support, contact schoolfood@southwark.gov.uk.

School Food Procurement Framework
Helping schools to procure their school food service from pre-approved suppliers in collaboration with Department for Education’s Get Help Buying for Schools – now available to schools. Please get in touch with Kirsty.Salmon@southwark.gov.uk if you would like more information on how we can support you with your school food procurement. 

School Visits
The council visit schools to review the lunchtime meal offer, engage with staff and students to gain feedback, and signpost school staff to relevant school food support.

We will soon be commencing follow up visits. If you have queries from your previous visit and want a follow up booked, please contact: schoolfood@southwark.gov.uk

London living wage grant scheme

Our grant scheme helps newly accredited Living Wage Employers with their accreditation fees. The 2025 to 2026 Living Wage rate is £14.80 per hour in London.

To apply for Living Wage grant scheme you must:

• have become accredited with the Living Wage Foundation for the first time on or after 6 November 2023 and have already paid the initial accreditation fees
• have 250 employees or fewer
• must be based in Southwark

Apply for the Living Wage grant scheme here

If you have any queries about the scheme email and include ‘Southwark Living Wage Grant Scheme’ in the subject line: southwarkbusinessdesk@southwark.gov.uk

Water only schools and Fizz Free February

Healthy Schools London offer a Water only school toolkit for primary and secondary schools. Download the toolkit here 

We challenge schools and children and family centres every February to give up fizzy drinks. Prizes and assemblies are on offer for your school. Read more about Fizz Free February and how to sign up for 2027 here

Free food waste collection and workshops

All schools in Southwark are eligible for free weekly food waste collections.

Please contact southwarkenquiries@veolia.co.uk to set up the service.

Chefs in Schools support

Chefs in Schools membership is for all in-house catered schools to address the various challenges faced by school chefs. This includes opportunities for professional development, recipes and resources, and access to a network of recommended suppliers and innovative solutions. 

Please contact Sam if you have any questions about the membership: sam@chefsinschools.org.uk

Fuel the future: Bite Back in schools

A fully funded student-led programme to transform secondary school food. Schools can get a £500 grant, a kick-off assembly delivered by an inspiring Bite Back Ambassador, ready-to-go resources and session plans and high-quality physical resources. 

Apply or learn more: https://www.biteback2030.com/join-bite-back-in-schools/ 

Questions? Contact: schoolfoodchampions@biteback2030.com

School Food Management training for School Business Managers

This is self-directed, online training, accredited by the Institute of School Business Leaders for School Business Managers to boost knowledge, skills, confidence and increase capacity to manage school meals services effectively.  

Sign up and complete the training here.

School Governor Advice and Support

Learn more about the responsibilities of governors for school food and how they can help the transformation programme here.

1. Free healthy nursery meals

Since 2019, we have provided Free Healthy Nursery Meals, and since 2023 we have offered funding for breakfast. Funding is provided where grant conditions are met. 

2. Mayor of London Key Stage 2 87%+ Free School Meals + Special Schools funding 

The Mayor of London currently offers universal free school meals for all primary schools. Primary schools can receive up to 13% additional funding for KS2 free school meals if uptake is above 87%. Special schools can also apply for up to £5000 extra funding each year to help meet additional costs. The deadline for schools to submit completed forms for the funding to schoolfood@southwak.gov.uk is 17 April 2026. For the submission form, and for more information, visit the Mayor of London's guidance for schools.

3. Free healthy secondary school meals

We additionally fund free secondary school meals for families who get Universal Credit, and who are not currently eligible for government benefits related free school meals. 

4. Free school meals auto enrolment pupil premium

To help remove the barriers from parents/carers applying to FSM, we have introduced ‘auto enrolment’ to identify and register pupils who are free school meal eligible. Schools will receive Pupil Premium based on every additional pupil identified that are eligible for Free School Meals. Schools will be sent pupil lists to register every term, before Census Day.