Schools in some parts of London will have to meet any funding shortfall for the mayor鈥檚 to primary pupils, but councils in other areas will front up the difference. Several boroughs told Schools Week the 拢2.65 per meal allocated by Sadiq Khan鈥檚 office for the scheme falls short of what鈥檚 needed, with little time and no extra money available to upgrade facilities and increase staffing for the September rollout. Although the funding on offer is more than the 拢2.41 currently paid by central government for infant meals, our analysis suggests the funding plans will still leave a shortfall of 拢33 million across London. While some boroughs have welcomed the investment and even pledged to top up funding to cover the meals, others have warned they will not be able to do so if it falls short. It suggests the investment will have an uneven impact across the capital. Andy Jolley, a school food campaigner, said Khan had 鈥渃ompletely underestimated the difficulties of implementation鈥, and that schools would be 鈥渓eft to pick up the pieces鈥. The mayor was 鈥渦p against the reality of providing school meals, it simply can鈥檛 be done on the cheap鈥. Lewisham council said the funding shortfall could cost schools in the borough as much as 拢600,000. However, it has approved capital spending of 拢620,000 from its own budgets to upgrade kitchens. Schools already under ‘significant’ financial pressure Bexley council said it shared 鈥渢he concerns of our schools on the practicalities and financial challenges that they will face in delivering these extra meals from September鈥. These included the logistics around the physical delivery of the extra meals and the extra costs. 鈥淭he council does not have the funds to meet any additional costs associated with this initiative and this will need to be met by our schools.鈥 Kingston and Richmond councils, which share some services, said the 鈥渓ogistics of mobilising the expansion in such a short period of time is causing concern, at a time when schools are already under significant pressure in terms of children’s needs and school finances鈥. A spokesperson said schools were assessing the changes to kitchens, dining halls, staffing and school timetables that might be needed to implement the new scheme. Sutton said it had 27 schools in a contract with a set cost, which was less than 拢2.65 per meal. Others made their own arrangements, but if they faced a shortfall, 鈥渟chools would be responsible鈥 for meeting it. 鈥淎s the funding is only for one year, commencing with a short timescale and the take-up is unknown, schools will need to manage with the equipment and sites they have and manage the situation accordingly. 鈥淚f this were to continue then some capital funding may be required.鈥 Some boroughs already provide universal free meals Some boroughs already provide universal primary free meals. Westminster will use the extra funding from the mayor to extend the scheme to secondary pupils. It will top up the cash to 拢3 per meal. Newham also has universal primary free meals. Joshua Garfield, the council鈥檚 cabinet member for education, said funding from the mayor 鈥渂rings us closer to the actual cost when compared to the national government’s standing rate of 拢2.41 for infant schools 鈥 a figure that seems to be frozen in time鈥. However, the money fell short of the 拢3 needed to provide meals in the borough. Newham is awaiting details on whether boroughs with existing schemes would face different grant conditions. Other councils said the funding from City Hall would cover the cost of meals. Waltham Forest said its cost per meal was not above 拢2.65, and 鈥渨e do not anticipate any shortfall鈥. However, 鈥渇inal costs will be dependent on take-up and staffing required鈥. Merton said most of its primary schools were on a contract costing 拢2.40, and even planned inflationary increases would not take it above 拢2.65 next year. However, it said there was 鈥渟ome concern鈥 about capital funding 鈥渁s we do have some small kitchens and may be need to use some neighbouring larger kitchen to help out in a small number of cases鈥. A spokesperson said the mayor鈥檚 team 鈥渁re continuing to work closely with schools, councils and partners on the implementation of this unprecedented policy鈥, and pointed out the funding was 鈥渁lmost 10 per cent more鈥 than provided by government.