Camden Council is exploring future options for school meal provision, ensuring affordability, sustainability, high quality, and inclusivity for all pupils. The council aims to provide meals that cater to the diverse dietary needs and cultural backgrounds of students in Camden. According to the School Meals Update report, Camden's current school meal contract delivers consistent, high-quality, fresh meals that support pupils' health and wellbeing, are culturally appropriate, and promote safety.
The Camden Council Schools Forum convened on 2 December 2025, where members received an update on the council's ongoing efforts to evaluate potential strategies for school meal services. According to the School Meals Update report, the council is committed to tackling food poverty, improving nutrition, and providing food education to students.
Camden's current school meal contract with Caterlink, which began in April 2025, is set to run its full term. The three-year contract, with the option to extend for two further years, aims to provide affordable, sustainable, high-quality meals that support pupils' health, wellbeing, and inclusivity.
The council is also exploring the establishment of School of Food sites in at least two primary schools. This initiative would offer cookery sessions for entire classes, supporting schools that lack the facilities or skills to meet Camden's nutrition curriculum recommendations.
Additionally, Camden is working to launch an auto-enrolment/opt-out process for accessing Free School Meals (FSM) during the 2025/26 academic year. This initiative aligns with national changes to include Universal Credit recipients in FSM eligibility, aiming to materially increase the number of residents accessing this benefit, according to the School Meals Update report.
The council's commitment to reducing carbon impact is also reflected in the school meals programme, with the contractor required to demonstrate proactivity in providing climate-conscious meals.