Hunger doesn’t wait for guidance

For the second time this year, schools are closed to the majority of pupils for the foreseeable, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and a worrying surge in case numbers over the festive period. During this period, schools continue to have an obligation to provide food or the means to access food for those eligible for Free School Meals still attending and for those at home. Now, the pandemic has seen a changing landscape for Free School Meal provision, together with a heightened focus in the media. The need is clear. It is well documented. It is reflected in the rising rates of poverty and unemployment, and the concerning increase in food insecurity seen nationally and locally. We discussed this many times the first time round.

We know this. It is clear that those eligible for Free School Meals need that right protected. Its something that we, at City Catering, are passionate about protecting.

We were thrilled to hear the PM reference extra support for those eligible for Free School Meals in his national address on Monday evening. A recognition of the importance of school meals, and the crucial benefit that they serve those young people and their families. Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Education, referenced it in Parliament when he briefed MPs a few days later. We were advised of ‘extra support’ to enable schools to provide meals or food parcels, and if unable to provide that, for the national voucher scheme to be utilised to ensure that no-one missed out.

Today, the Government has released additional guidance to schools. In reference to catering, it states:

“During the period of national lockdown, schools should continue to provide meal options for all pupils who are in school. Meals should be available free of charge to all infant pupils and pupils who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals who are in school. Schools should also continue to provide free school meal support to pupils who are eligible for benefits related free school meals and who are not attending school. Extra funding will be provided to support schools to provide food parcels or meals to eligible children. Where schools cannot offer food parcels or use local solutions, we will ensure a national voucher scheme is in place so that every eligible child can access free school meals while their school remains closed. Further guidance will be provided shortly.”

At City Catering, we have not waited for guidance. We have remained supporting our Member schools in the way that we were in Autumn term for eligible pupils who were self-isolating. In collaboration with our suppliers, Harvest, we are already supporting approx. 1,600 Southampton pupils by delivering two-week grocery boxes, containing items such as milk, bread, cheese, eggs, baking potatoes, carrots, onions, cherry tomatoes, red peppers, cucumbers, dried pasta, baked beans, tinned tomatoes, tinned chickpeas, tinned sweetcorn, oats, apples, satsumas, bananas, in accordance to School Food Plan guidance. Our kitchen teams are also providing daily packed lunches, where schools feel that this is best for their families. For various reasons, many families will not be best supported in this way, and the offer the voucher scheme returning will be welcome news.

In England, there were 1.4 million pupils eligible for Free School Meals this time last year. This will have risen. It takes time to distribute provision at the short notice that school and the catering teams would have had. We welcome the extra support, and are delighted that these needs are being considered. However, to have been advised of extra support and the alternative option of the national voucher scheme returning, but no details will only delay things further for some families, or create uncertainty for others - and schools, who are managing a whole range of challenges right now. It is important to remember, that any delay relates directly to child hunger.

Hunger doesn’t wait for guidance. We have been waiting for information about how the Government wishes the support some of the most vulnerable children during this lockdown period, and we are still waiting. The support offered has been made through various last minute decisions, u-turns, and inconsistencies for the duration of the pandemic. This is not the way to support families. Those who provide this support - schools, caterers, food supplier, charities - need adequate information, time and funding to ensure that we can best protect not just the health and nutrition for these pupils, but also their ability to concentrate and adapt to at-home learning. We know how important nutrition is to wellbeing, behaviour and learning. It is vital for so many reasons that families have reliable, consistent and timely support.

We will be calling upon our local and national representatives to ensure that those eligible for Free School Meals are well supported during this third lockdown, and second period of extended at-home learning, just as we did in Spring 2020. We will continue to do what we can for those families in Southampton. Explore ways to enable us to continue to do that here.