Andy Jolley
@andyjolley.bsky.social
Evidence based school meals campaigner & former School Governor
TBI survivor
Interests include Education, Social Justice & Concussion in Rugby
TBI survivor
Interests include Education, Social Justice & Concussion in Rugby
Pinned
I doubt we’ll see much on School meals in the upcoming budget, but here’s a little wish list, just in case there’s any spare change knocking about DfE
Increase the per meal funding!
Keeping funding at £2.61 is essential punishing Small schools, Infant schools & schools in areas of high deprivation
Increase the per meal funding!
Keeping funding at £2.61 is essential punishing Small schools, Infant schools & schools in areas of high deprivation
Reposted by Andy Jolley
Perhaps it’s worth remembering that the majority of those benefiting from this policy, are middle and high income families
The £500 they save isn’t alleviating poverty
There’s no real evidence all this spend is having any impact at all
The £500 they save isn’t alleviating poverty
There’s no real evidence all this spend is having any impact at all
Two years ago, I introduced a pioneering policy to provide free school meals for all of London’s state primary school children.
Today we’re celebrating 100 million free school meals provided since September 2023.
Today we’re celebrating 100 million free school meals provided since September 2023.
November 25, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Perhaps it’s worth remembering that the majority of those benefiting from this policy, are middle and high income families
The £500 they save isn’t alleviating poverty
There’s no real evidence all this spend is having any impact at all
The £500 they save isn’t alleviating poverty
There’s no real evidence all this spend is having any impact at all
Perhaps it’s worth remembering that the majority of those benefiting from this policy, are middle and high income families
The £500 they save isn’t alleviating poverty
There’s no real evidence all this spend is having any impact at all
The £500 they save isn’t alleviating poverty
There’s no real evidence all this spend is having any impact at all
Two years ago, I introduced a pioneering policy to provide free school meals for all of London’s state primary school children.
Today we’re celebrating 100 million free school meals provided since September 2023.
Today we’re celebrating 100 million free school meals provided since September 2023.
November 25, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Perhaps it’s worth remembering that the majority of those benefiting from this policy, are middle and high income families
The £500 they save isn’t alleviating poverty
There’s no real evidence all this spend is having any impact at all
The £500 they save isn’t alleviating poverty
There’s no real evidence all this spend is having any impact at all
All these school meals, all this money
What impact should we be expecting?
Sadiqs focus is v much on how much money parents save
We are lacking any evidence this improves attainment or positively impacts children’s health
It’s just £500 worth of savings for better off parents
What impact should we be expecting?
Sadiqs focus is v much on how much money parents save
We are lacking any evidence this improves attainment or positively impacts children’s health
It’s just £500 worth of savings for better off parents
Today we hit a truly historic milestone as 100 million free school meals have been served to the capital’s state primary school children, thanks to funding by @london.gov.uk That's 435 free lunches for each child!
November 25, 2025 at 5:47 PM
All these school meals, all this money
What impact should we be expecting?
Sadiqs focus is v much on how much money parents save
We are lacking any evidence this improves attainment or positively impacts children’s health
It’s just £500 worth of savings for better off parents
What impact should we be expecting?
Sadiqs focus is v much on how much money parents save
We are lacking any evidence this improves attainment or positively impacts children’s health
It’s just £500 worth of savings for better off parents
@vikkislademp.bsky.social doing stirling work on this
We need to do more to protect children from adverts
Empowering councils seems a sensible way forward
We need to do more to protect children from adverts
Empowering councils seems a sensible way forward
After serving on the Devolution Bill Committee, I worked with Jamie Oliver’s team and the @oha-updates.bsky.social to push a clause giving councils the power to restrict fast-food ads near schools and youth spaces. This is about protecting young people.
November 25, 2025 at 3:16 PM
@vikkislademp.bsky.social doing stirling work on this
We need to do more to protect children from adverts
Empowering councils seems a sensible way forward
We need to do more to protect children from adverts
Empowering councils seems a sensible way forward
This is unquestionably a good thing
I’m not a fan of weeks of leaking what’s in the budget, not sure it does anyone any good
I’m not a fan of weeks of leaking what’s in the budget, not sure it does anyone any good
Milkshakes and lattes to be hit with sugar tax, Wes Streeting announces
Milkshakes and lattes to be hit with sugar tax, Wes Streeting announces
Milkshakes and lattes will be hit with a sugar tax for the first time in a bid to tackle obesity, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said.
news.sky.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:28 PM
This is unquestionably a good thing
I’m not a fan of weeks of leaking what’s in the budget, not sure it does anyone any good
I’m not a fan of weeks of leaking what’s in the budget, not sure it does anyone any good
Reposted by Andy Jolley
I think we all know which way this judge would have found if a trans person had done what Graham Linehan did to a 17 year old cis person.
November 25, 2025 at 11:24 AM
I think we all know which way this judge would have found if a trans person had done what Graham Linehan did to a 17 year old cis person.
Reposted by Andy Jolley
One final thought…
No one really understands the potential impact of ending Transitional Protections
We don’t know how it will effect school finances, I’m hearing some schools may lose 1/3 of their FSM funding
We may need some transitional protections for the ending of Transitional Protections 🤔
No one really understands the potential impact of ending Transitional Protections
We don’t know how it will effect school finances, I’m hearing some schools may lose 1/3 of their FSM funding
We may need some transitional protections for the ending of Transitional Protections 🤔
November 24, 2025 at 3:53 PM
One final thought…
No one really understands the potential impact of ending Transitional Protections
We don’t know how it will effect school finances, I’m hearing some schools may lose 1/3 of their FSM funding
We may need some transitional protections for the ending of Transitional Protections 🤔
No one really understands the potential impact of ending Transitional Protections
We don’t know how it will effect school finances, I’m hearing some schools may lose 1/3 of their FSM funding
We may need some transitional protections for the ending of Transitional Protections 🤔
Reposted by Andy Jolley
Ministers should set a timeframe for automatically registering FSM pupils
I know a number of LAs are piloting systems to help register families, but it’s little more than a bodge (& imo is of dubious legality)
Ministers need to drive through this change & ensure vulnerable families don’t miss out
I know a number of LAs are piloting systems to help register families, but it’s little more than a bodge (& imo is of dubious legality)
Ministers need to drive through this change & ensure vulnerable families don’t miss out
November 24, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Ministers should set a timeframe for automatically registering FSM pupils
I know a number of LAs are piloting systems to help register families, but it’s little more than a bodge (& imo is of dubious legality)
Ministers need to drive through this change & ensure vulnerable families don’t miss out
I know a number of LAs are piloting systems to help register families, but it’s little more than a bodge (& imo is of dubious legality)
Ministers need to drive through this change & ensure vulnerable families don’t miss out
Reposted by Andy Jolley
I mentioned Small Schools
Many are desperately struggling to cover the additional costs of providing meals and now they face the added burden of Breakfast clubs
The Tories ending the Small School Grant was scandalous
It’s time it was reinstated
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-axes-uni...
Many are desperately struggling to cover the additional costs of providing meals and now they face the added burden of Breakfast clubs
The Tories ending the Small School Grant was scandalous
It’s time it was reinstated
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-axes-uni...
DfE ends universal infant free meals small school support grant
The government has ended an annual £2,300 grant to help small infant schools fund free meals for their pupils – despite some already making a loss to feed their children. The Department for Education ...
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 3:50 PM
I mentioned Small Schools
Many are desperately struggling to cover the additional costs of providing meals and now they face the added burden of Breakfast clubs
The Tories ending the Small School Grant was scandalous
It’s time it was reinstated
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-axes-uni...
Many are desperately struggling to cover the additional costs of providing meals and now they face the added burden of Breakfast clubs
The Tories ending the Small School Grant was scandalous
It’s time it was reinstated
schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-axes-uni...
Reposted by Andy Jolley
Doubt we’ll see much on School meals in the upcoming budget, but here’s a little wish list, just in case there’s any spare change knocking about DfE
Increase the per meal funding!
Keeping funding at £2.61 is essentially punishing Small schools, Infant schools & schools in areas of high deprivation
Increase the per meal funding!
Keeping funding at £2.61 is essentially punishing Small schools, Infant schools & schools in areas of high deprivation
November 24, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Doubt we’ll see much on School meals in the upcoming budget, but here’s a little wish list, just in case there’s any spare change knocking about DfE
Increase the per meal funding!
Keeping funding at £2.61 is essentially punishing Small schools, Infant schools & schools in areas of high deprivation
Increase the per meal funding!
Keeping funding at £2.61 is essentially punishing Small schools, Infant schools & schools in areas of high deprivation
Reposted by Andy Jolley
Of course the best idea would be to combine both the above
Sell it as an investment on healthier children with the strong expectation that caterers improve their offerings
Far too many school meals are tasteless, mass produced mediocrity
Use the stick of inspection to ensure school food improves
Sell it as an investment on healthier children with the strong expectation that caterers improve their offerings
Far too many school meals are tasteless, mass produced mediocrity
Use the stick of inspection to ensure school food improves
November 24, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Of course the best idea would be to combine both the above
Sell it as an investment on healthier children with the strong expectation that caterers improve their offerings
Far too many school meals are tasteless, mass produced mediocrity
Use the stick of inspection to ensure school food improves
Sell it as an investment on healthier children with the strong expectation that caterers improve their offerings
Far too many school meals are tasteless, mass produced mediocrity
Use the stick of inspection to ensure school food improves
Reposted by Andy Jolley
Introduce new School Food Standards
Include specific requirements around healthy eating and strict guidelines for breakfast clubs
And introduce some independent monitoring (not Ofsted and not already overstretched local council food inspectors)
Include specific requirements around healthy eating and strict guidelines for breakfast clubs
And introduce some independent monitoring (not Ofsted and not already overstretched local council food inspectors)
November 24, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Introduce new School Food Standards
Include specific requirements around healthy eating and strict guidelines for breakfast clubs
And introduce some independent monitoring (not Ofsted and not already overstretched local council food inspectors)
Include specific requirements around healthy eating and strict guidelines for breakfast clubs
And introduce some independent monitoring (not Ofsted and not already overstretched local council food inspectors)
Doubt we’ll see much on School meals in the upcoming budget, but here’s a little wish list, just in case there’s any spare change knocking about DfE
Increase the per meal funding!
Keeping funding at £2.61 is essentially punishing Small schools, Infant schools & schools in areas of high deprivation
Increase the per meal funding!
Keeping funding at £2.61 is essentially punishing Small schools, Infant schools & schools in areas of high deprivation
November 24, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Doubt we’ll see much on School meals in the upcoming budget, but here’s a little wish list, just in case there’s any spare change knocking about DfE
Increase the per meal funding!
Keeping funding at £2.61 is essentially punishing Small schools, Infant schools & schools in areas of high deprivation
Increase the per meal funding!
Keeping funding at £2.61 is essentially punishing Small schools, Infant schools & schools in areas of high deprivation
Reposted by Andy Jolley
With typical lack of self-awareness, the narcissistic and stupid Donald Trump reposts an image of himself wearing a crown while sitting on a throne with a Nazi eagle. Hardly a denial of the accusation that he's a Nazi who thinks he's a king.
November 24, 2025 at 2:28 PM
With typical lack of self-awareness, the narcissistic and stupid Donald Trump reposts an image of himself wearing a crown while sitting on a throne with a Nazi eagle. Hardly a denial of the accusation that he's a Nazi who thinks he's a king.
I doubt we’ll see much on School meals in the upcoming budget, but here’s a little wish list, just in case there’s any spare change knocking about DfE
Increase the per meal funding!
Keeping funding at £2.61 is essential punishing Small schools, Infant schools & schools in areas of high deprivation
Increase the per meal funding!
Keeping funding at £2.61 is essential punishing Small schools, Infant schools & schools in areas of high deprivation
November 24, 2025 at 1:27 PM
I doubt we’ll see much on School meals in the upcoming budget, but here’s a little wish list, just in case there’s any spare change knocking about DfE
Increase the per meal funding!
Keeping funding at £2.61 is essential punishing Small schools, Infant schools & schools in areas of high deprivation
Increase the per meal funding!
Keeping funding at £2.61 is essential punishing Small schools, Infant schools & schools in areas of high deprivation
Reposted by Andy Jolley
A lovely review of my lads band Insider Trading
They are building quite the following and will be touring again in the new year
open.substack.com/pub/jackdavi...
They are building quite the following and will be touring again in the new year
open.substack.com/pub/jackdavi...
I'm starting a newsletter (maybe)
Insider Trading - From Leith to New York review
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:44 PM
A lovely review of my lads band Insider Trading
They are building quite the following and will be touring again in the new year
open.substack.com/pub/jackdavi...
They are building quite the following and will be touring again in the new year
open.substack.com/pub/jackdavi...
He’s such a tool
It will take decades to get over his ruinous spell leading America
It will take decades to get over his ruinous spell leading America
Trump's gone back to blaming Ukraine for Russia attacking them.
November 23, 2025 at 6:12 PM
He’s such a tool
It will take decades to get over his ruinous spell leading America
It will take decades to get over his ruinous spell leading America
A lovely review of my lads band Insider Trading
They are building quite the following and will be touring again in the new year
open.substack.com/pub/jackdavi...
They are building quite the following and will be touring again in the new year
open.substack.com/pub/jackdavi...
I'm starting a newsletter (maybe)
Insider Trading - From Leith to New York review
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:44 PM
A lovely review of my lads band Insider Trading
They are building quite the following and will be touring again in the new year
open.substack.com/pub/jackdavi...
They are building quite the following and will be touring again in the new year
open.substack.com/pub/jackdavi...
Gove knew Johnson wasn’t fit to be prime minister
He said so publicly
This is just mealy mouthed nonsense, trying to make up for the countless bad decisions he & his mates made
www.bbc.com/news/article...
He said so publicly
This is just mealy mouthed nonsense, trying to make up for the countless bad decisions he & his mates made
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Michael Gove apologises after Covid report alleges 'toxic' culture
The ex-senior minister apologises for mistakes in the pandemic, but defends some of the previous government's actions.
www.bbc.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Gove knew Johnson wasn’t fit to be prime minister
He said so publicly
This is just mealy mouthed nonsense, trying to make up for the countless bad decisions he & his mates made
www.bbc.com/news/article...
He said so publicly
This is just mealy mouthed nonsense, trying to make up for the countless bad decisions he & his mates made
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Andy Jolley
The Covid inquiry’s findings are shocking but unsurprising now, so the main thing it left me thinking is that without a vaccine we wd’ve been utterly screwed. & if you worked round the clock to make a thing that saved millions of lives globally, to see that legacy trashed by anti-vaxxers…
November 20, 2025 at 5:50 PM
The Covid inquiry’s findings are shocking but unsurprising now, so the main thing it left me thinking is that without a vaccine we wd’ve been utterly screwed. & if you worked round the clock to make a thing that saved millions of lives globally, to see that legacy trashed by anti-vaxxers…
Reposted by Andy Jolley
Good to see DfE have come to their senses and increased the funding for Breakfast clubs
I am still at a loss as to why they didn’t start off at £1 per session, it would have saved them from a lot of criticism
The devil will be in the detail, but some initial thoughts…
I am still at a loss as to why they didn’t start off at £1 per session, it would have saved them from a lot of criticism
The devil will be in the detail, but some initial thoughts…
'We've listened to schools about what works and what needs changing, including funding rates,' says early education minister Olivia Bailey
'That's why we're increasing the per child funding rate, so schools can offer a genuine variety of healthy breakfast options'
schoolsweek.co.uk/weve-listene...
'That's why we're increasing the per child funding rate, so schools can offer a genuine variety of healthy breakfast options'
schoolsweek.co.uk/weve-listene...
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Good to see DfE have come to their senses and increased the funding for Breakfast clubs
I am still at a loss as to why they didn’t start off at £1 per session, it would have saved them from a lot of criticism
The devil will be in the detail, but some initial thoughts…
I am still at a loss as to why they didn’t start off at £1 per session, it would have saved them from a lot of criticism
The devil will be in the detail, but some initial thoughts…
I’m not sure the @schoolsweek.bsky.social piece makes clear the financial difficulties facing schools who have children with additional needs attending their breakfast clubs
Whilst special schools receive extra £s to help support SEND pupils
Mainstream schools must fund the extra staff themselves
Whilst special schools receive extra £s to help support SEND pupils
Mainstream schools must fund the extra staff themselves
Important piece from Olivia Bailey on what free breakfast clubs can do for children with SEND.
Support for those children is at the heart of all we do, as we build inclusive schools where every child can achieve and thrive.
schoolsweek.co.uk/weve-listene...
Support for those children is at the heart of all we do, as we build inclusive schools where every child can achieve and thrive.
schoolsweek.co.uk/weve-listene...
We heard schools on breakfast clubs – now we’re acting
Early education minister Olivia Bailey explains improvements to Labour's flagship breakfast clubs scheme
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 5:54 PM
I’m not sure the @schoolsweek.bsky.social piece makes clear the financial difficulties facing schools who have children with additional needs attending their breakfast clubs
Whilst special schools receive extra £s to help support SEND pupils
Mainstream schools must fund the extra staff themselves
Whilst special schools receive extra £s to help support SEND pupils
Mainstream schools must fund the extra staff themselves
I would like to suggest one thing to the government and vocal supporters of the breakfast club policy
Please be aware that making something available to pupils does not necessarily mean all of them will benefit from it
Take up rates for these new Breakfast Clubs are relatively low
Please be aware that making something available to pupils does not necessarily mean all of them will benefit from it
Take up rates for these new Breakfast Clubs are relatively low
Good to see DfE have come to their senses and increased the funding for Breakfast clubs
I am still at a loss as to why they didn’t start off at £1 per session, it would have saved them from a lot of criticism
The devil will be in the detail, but some initial thoughts…
I am still at a loss as to why they didn’t start off at £1 per session, it would have saved them from a lot of criticism
The devil will be in the detail, but some initial thoughts…
'We've listened to schools about what works and what needs changing, including funding rates,' says early education minister Olivia Bailey
'That's why we're increasing the per child funding rate, so schools can offer a genuine variety of healthy breakfast options'
schoolsweek.co.uk/weve-listene...
'That's why we're increasing the per child funding rate, so schools can offer a genuine variety of healthy breakfast options'
schoolsweek.co.uk/weve-listene...
November 20, 2025 at 2:37 PM
I would like to suggest one thing to the government and vocal supporters of the breakfast club policy
Please be aware that making something available to pupils does not necessarily mean all of them will benefit from it
Take up rates for these new Breakfast Clubs are relatively low
Please be aware that making something available to pupils does not necessarily mean all of them will benefit from it
Take up rates for these new Breakfast Clubs are relatively low
Reposted by Andy Jolley
Firstly it’s a very welcome move
If you are going to introduce a policy of compulsory breakfast clubs, they have to be properly funded
£1 per pupil plus a lump sum per day for staffing is a sensible way forward
But there are still issues for smaller schools & around SEN pupils
If you are going to introduce a policy of compulsory breakfast clubs, they have to be properly funded
£1 per pupil plus a lump sum per day for staffing is a sensible way forward
But there are still issues for smaller schools & around SEN pupils
November 19, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Firstly it’s a very welcome move
If you are going to introduce a policy of compulsory breakfast clubs, they have to be properly funded
£1 per pupil plus a lump sum per day for staffing is a sensible way forward
But there are still issues for smaller schools & around SEN pupils
If you are going to introduce a policy of compulsory breakfast clubs, they have to be properly funded
£1 per pupil plus a lump sum per day for staffing is a sensible way forward
But there are still issues for smaller schools & around SEN pupils