HOW COUNCILS PROVIDE FREE SCHOOL MEALS IN LOCKDOWN

Blaenau Gwent: Direct payments are made to parents.

Bridgend: Food parcels are sent weekly with five days’ lunch and breakfast. The service is contracted to The Real Wrap Company to run.

Caerphilly: Food parcels are delivered to homes. Three suppliers are used, Castell Howell, Woosmans Dairies and Russell Bishop Fruit and Veg.

Cardiff: Downloadable vouchers are sent to parents and carers to buy food in supermarkets including Aldi, Asda, Iceland, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose.

Newport: Families receive vouchers to buy food.

Rhondda Cynon Taf: BACS payments are made to families.

The Welsh Government provides £19.50 a week for each child on free school meals, including holidays.

New Welsh Government guidance this week on school reopening for the youngest children states: “During this time, the Welsh Government will continue to make available an additional £19.50 per learner per week in order that local authorities can continue to make provision for learners who are eligible for free school meals but who are unable to attend because of Covid-19 (this applies regardless of whether their school is closed or because they are shielding or self-isolating).

“Local authorities can choose which method of provision best suits the needs of their communities (options include food parcels, supermarket vouchers or direct payments to parents’/carers’ bank accounts) and we encourage local authorities to consider operating a number of systems in parallel in order to ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable families can be met.”