Earlier this week, the Government released new guidance on Free School Meals and launched a national food voucher scheme.
It means that children eligible for free school meals can benefit from a national voucher scheme allowing them to continue to access meals whilst they stay at home.
Schools can now choose to provide every eligible child with a weekly shopping voucher worth £15 (£3 per day) to spend at supermarkets while schools are closed due to coronavirus.
The eligible stores are Tesco, Sainsbury’s Waitrose, M&S, Asda and Morrison shops. It does not cover school holidays.
Schools can work with their school meal provider to continue to provide meals for collection or delivery themselves, but where this is not possible, the scheme will allow schools to provide vouchers to families electronically, or as a gift card for those without internet access.
This scheme applies to children eligible to benefit-based free school meals in key stage 2 and does not cover those who get a free meal because they are aged between 4 and 7 years old (Universal Infant Free School Meals).
Meals for children of keyworkers and children with an EHCP who are still attending school will continue.
Most schools in the city use a catering provider called CATERed, who will still be offering a grab and go package or a meal at school if your child is in school. This offer continues to run through the holidays.
Some schools will choose to offer vouchers instead and if you have an enquiry then in the first instance you should ask your school. If you feel you are entitled to a meal and you are not able to get one or sort it out with your school then please email childrensservicesresponse@plymouth.gov.uk and the Council will try to help you to sort this out.
We ask you to consider whether a voucher is the right choice for you:
- Whilst £3 per day is more than the value of a Free School Meal, you do not have the same bulk purchasing power that large suppliers have and so the quantity of food available for £3 will be lower than if a grab bag is provided.
- As far as possible the grab bag will be a healthy option for your child.
- Some parents have reported issues with stock levels at supermarkets, therefore the food you want may not be readily available, even if vouchers are used.
- Large parts of the city are not in walking distance of the supermarkets open to the voucher scheme. It does not include Lidl, Coop, Aldi or Iceland and this has been flagged to the government.
If you usually pay for a meal at school and your child/ren is attending then we ask that you pay as you normally would.
Stay safe and take care