Free school meal voucher scheme to continue over half-term break
THE DEPARTMENT for Education will fund a national voucher scheme for free school meals over the half-term following pressure from parents, pupils and school leaders.
Schools Standards Minister Nick Gibb told MPs that the cost of the scheme would be met by the Government over the break – which for many schools is this week – rather than just in termtime.
Addressing a virtual Education Select Committee yesterday, Mr Gibb acknowledged the scheme had had “a bumpy start” with software issues, but he said it had delivered millions of pounds worth of food.
Families eligible for free school meals (FSM) in England will continue to receive supermarket vouchers worth £15 a week per child to buy food over the halfterm while schools remain shut to most children.
The decision comes after more than 100,000 people signed a petition urging the Government “not to abandon children” by taking away free lunches during halfterm and the six-week summer holidays.
The Change.org petition was started by 16-year-old Christina Adane, from London, who is one of around 1.3 million pupils in England entitled to FSMs. She wrote: “All kids have the right to get a decent lunch.”
On the news that the programme will be extended during the May half-term, Ms Adane said: “Our voice has been heard. This really shows what we can achieve when we all campaign together.”
Children’s Minister Vicky Ford wrote to the Education Select Committee on Friday to confirm that costs of the national voucher scheme would be met by the Department for Education (DfE) over half-term.
The DfE has no plans to run the national voucher scheme over the six-week summer holidays. Instead, children will be offered free meals as part of the DfE’s Holiday Activities and Food programme.
A DfE spokesperson said: “Costs of the national voucher scheme to provide free school meals for eligible pupils will continue to be met by DfE over the May half-term break.”