Thousands of pupils to receive free healthy school meals in drive to tackle childhood obesity

From this school term Southwark Council will offer one nutritious meal a day to 21,000 pupils across 70 primary schools, regardless of family income.

The scheme is expected to save a typical family with two children at primary school £700 a year.

It comes as new NHS figures show that Southwark has one of the highest levels of child obesity in the country.

More than 40% of the borough's children are classed as "overweight and obese" when they leave primary school - compared to 33% nationally.

Catherine McDonald, Southwark's cabinet member for children's services, said: "Our free healthy school meals programme will help tackle child obesity by ensuring that our pupils can have at least one healthy meal a day.

"It will also put hundreds of pounds a year back into parents' pockets at a time when many people are feeling the financial squeeze."

The programme is set to cost £8m over three years.

It will initially be rolled out to all reception and year one pupils this term before being extended to all primary school year groups by 2013.

It follows a successful pilot among 10 Southwark schools earlier in the year.

Commenting on the scheme, one parent said: "Since eating the free healthy school meals my child has started asking for fruit at home."

Another said: "With the money I've saved on school meals, I've bought books for my child".

Local headteachers and health experts have backed the council's school meals plan.

Virginia Bridge, Headteacher at Rye Oak Primary School in Peckham, said: "We are a strong supporter of the Free Healthy School Meals programme.

"It is an important provision for my pupils and will make a difference to their education and so I'm absolutely delighted to know that it will now be available to all primary schools across the borough."

Judy Hargadon, Chief Executive of the Schools Food Trust, said: "We welcome Southwark's commitment to supporting every child to eat well at school so that they can reach their full potential."

Libby Grundy, Director of the Food for Life Partnership, added: "By providing free school meals to every child in Southwark, Southwark Council is tackling obesity and economic inequality head on."