School Meals

(asked on 1st June 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if his Department will provide further guidance to schools on using their usual school meal providers when schools reopen during the covid-19 outbreak.


Answered by
Vicky Ford Portrait
Vicky Ford
This question was answered on 4th June 2020

Around 1.3 million children are eligible for and claiming benefits-related free school meals. During this period, we are asking schools to support these children by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. We know that many schools are successfully delivering food parcels or arranging food collections for eligible children and we encourage this approach where it is possible.

However, we recognise that providing meals and food parcels is not a practicable option for all schools. That is why on 31 March we launched a national voucher scheme as an alternative option, with costs covered by the Department for Education.

The purpose of the voucher scheme is to ensure children eligible for benefits related free school meals who are not in school will continue to have access while schools are closed to most pupils due to the COVID-19 outbreak. It is not intended to replace long term contractual arrangements.

Guidance on providing free school meals has been updated to reflect that, as schools open more widely and their kitchens reopen, they should provide meal options for all children who are in school, free of charge for those eligible for free schools meals, and should make food parcels available for collection or delivery for any children that are eligible for free school meals who are staying at home. If schools are unable to provide food parcels, they can continue using the national voucher scheme to provide vouchers for children at home.

Schools can also apply to be reimbursed for any additional costs associated with providing free school meals at this time, where those costs are not covered by the national voucher scheme: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools.

The latest advice on free school meals is available on the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools.

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