There are well stated educational benefits associated with ensuring that children are well-nourished. Children with balanced and nutritional diets tend to demonstrate improved attention, discipline, and self-esteem (see for example this Institute for Education report). Further research has also begun to suggest that having a nutritious breakfast in particular can be hugely beneficial to an individual’s school performance (see for instance this Livestrong article which I’m assuming is far less deceitful than the organisation’s founder…)
Currently though, those on FSM only receive one meal at school (usually lunch) which may well mean that the outputs and outcomes from the provision of free meals are not being fully maximised. In particular, if for whatever reason children are receiving either no breakfast or poor quality meals in the morning, then a free nutritious lunch may only have minimal impact. Given all this, it strikes me as being sensible to give those on FSM two decent meals a day rather than just the one.
Inevitably, there are cost implications associated with increasing the number of meals provided through the FSM programme. However, I still believe it could be affordable as it need not represent an excessive additional cost burden.
Speaking admittedly only from personal experience, breakfast is the cheapest meal of the day both if bought ready made on the high street, or if made at home. Cereals, breads, yoghurts, and fruits are all relatively cheap foodstuffs and there will of course be savings for schools from bulk buying. Indeed, were school canteens to offer breakfasts to non-FSM students at cost price, some of the outlay could be recouped. With the savings associated with bulk buying, parents might find it cheaper to have their kids fed at school than at home. The addition of some paying customers could make the extension of FSM more financially viable.
Furthermore, one of the problems associated with delivering Jamie Oliver style school lunches has been that many schools have lacked the cooking equipment and facilities to produce meals on site, entailing higher costs through the installation of new facilities or having meals made off site. However, putting together what could largely be cold meals is altogether more straightforward. Water urns could still allow hot parts to meals though hot drinks and porridge etc.
Now obviously, I’ve not properly costed any of this but my instinct tells me that giving FSM students a free breakfast could be cost-effective and hugely beneficial. I certainly hope that it’s an idea that becomes far more prominent and given greater thought.
