Government issues guidance to schools regarding Free School Meals in Lockdown
Last week, we called upon local and national representatives to support the call for additional guidance on the extra support offered for the delivery of Free School Meals following the partial-closure of schools. You can read our letter here. We were delighted to have responses from our representatives, who too, wanted clarity on the Governments offer.
We were pleased to see that late on Friday, clarity arrived in the form of update guidance which, as in Autumn term for those self-isolating, prioritises the delivery of meals or food parcels to those not in school. We really welcome this acknowledgement of the importance of healthy meals.
We are encouraged to see the temporary extension of the Free School Meal system to those with no recourse to public funds, whether in school or at home, remain. This is an aspect of the guidance that we hope will stay beyond the pandemic, to ensure pupils who need meals can access them.
The guidance also offers schools an additional £3.50 per eligible pupil per week to support the procurement of food for those not in school, in attempt to 'level' the monetary value offered by the alternative offer of supermarket vouchers, totalling £15 per pupil per week. Schools can currently organise these locally, when food or meals are not possible.
Food parcels should follow national guidance that has already been provided, and in collaboration with the School Food Plan Alliance, and LACA - with whom with are members.
We are already adhering to this guidance, and you can read more about our food parcels here . We have also offered families some meals options that they can create with their grocery boxes, as an extension of our Cooking at Home program
The guidance however references the reopening of a National Voucher scheme, that we saw in Spring. This was met with delays and challenges at the start of the first lockdown, and as of yet, the Government has not issued information for schools. Whilst this is being seen as the alternative option this time around, it is still vital that pupils who need it can benefit from it and that schools are supported to provide whatever is most suitable, with ease and without delay, confusion or uncertainty.
We know that schools are under immense pressure and challenges right now - as many organisations are. We will continue to do what we can to ensure that our service is efficient, smooth and helpful to our Members, whilst providing meals and groceries to support those who need them.
Keep following this story, and the ways that we are support families, over on our socials.