All government primary schools in Jersey will offer school meals, if the States agrees £1.6 million of funding.

Ministers want to ring-fence the funding to expand provision, currently offered in five primaries as part of a pilot scheme.

The money will also cover creating serving facilities.

The funding is part of the Government Plan for 2023-2024.

The Chief Minister Deputy Kristina Moore says the substantial sum underpins her government's commitment to children and families.

"The access that children have to healthy food has an impact on their development and their school performance: it is also a key predictor of their health throughout their life. “This intervention is timely. We know that the cost of living is rising, and that there are many families for whom providing healthier options is becoming harder. Alongside the substantial financial support we announced in the mini budget, the provision of school meals will provide more options for families."

The Education Minister Deputy Inna Gardiner says it is a huge logistical challenge, but absolutely worth doing to ensure that as many children as possible can benefit from healthy meals when more families are struggling to provide them.

“I recognise exactly how ambitious this plan is: if funding is approved, we will go from providing a few hundred meals a day to several thousand meals a day. This is more than double the number produced by the General Hospital every day, for delivery across the island."

The pilot scheme was brought in by the previous government in September 2019, initially at two primaries - Janvrin and Samares - and with £200,000 funding.

Students get a nutritious meal and dessert for £2.50 each. It is free for those on 'Pupil Premium'.

Reform Deputy Rob Ward asked in December that year for an extra £600,000 to expand it to all primary schools, but his attempt to get it added to the Government Plan was defeated.

St Luke's was added next, followed by St Martin's and St Peter's schools.