The Mayor of London’s latest announcement confirms that universal registration has helped identify more than 20,200 previously unregistered pupils, unlocking almost £50 million in additional funding for London schools.
We are incredibly proud to have partnered with Basis to support the Greater London Authority in evaluating this work and strengthening how impact is captured across the capital. We have been working with the London boroughs across two phases of work, helping them to implement and develop their approaches to ‘universal registration’, i.e. processes aimed at increasing the registration of children entitled to FSM. Typically, these processes have taken an ‘opt-out, auto-award’ approach but also include other methods, such as including FSM registration opt-in fields on benefits application forms or establishing opt-in processes coordinated with schools.
Through Phase 2 of the programme, we worked closely with borough teams to embed universal registration as a sustainable, business-as-usual process. This included providing targeted one-to-one support, co-designing a shared impact measurement framework, improving data collection and reporting practices, and capturing borough case studies to share learning across London.
With support from the GLA, the impact these boroughs are having has been immense. On top of the additional FSM grant, FSM Ever6 and Pupil Premium funding unlocked for schools, universal registration processes have opened up access to wider support for families, such as school uniform grants. Improved data monitoring from these processes is also helping boroughs to understand where their most disadvantaged children and families are, enabling more targeted engagement and support.
This project was focused on London but the challenge is not unique to the capital. There are unidentified pupils entitled to free school meals in every local authority across the UK.
To learn more about how we support councils to improve child health outcomes, strengthen data-led decision making and tackle inequalities through programmes like universal registration, take a look at our services infosheet.