Free School Meals: Coronavirus

(asked on 12th January 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of support provided to pupils entitled to (a) benefits-related free school meals and (b) universal infant free school meals to ensure that they receive sufficient nutrition through those meals during the January 2021 covid-19 lockdown.


Answered by
Vicky Ford Portrait
Vicky Ford
This question was answered on 20th January 2021

The continuing provision of free school meals to children from out of work families or those on low incomes is of the utmost importance to this government.

We have guidance in place allowing schools to decide the best approach for their pupils. School leaders know their communities best and have flexibility to select the most appropriate support for their pupils. This can be through lunch parcels, local vouchers or the national voucher scheme, which re-opened on Monday 18 January 2021. Our funding for schools to cover benefits-related free school meals equates to £15 per week per eligible child.

The pictures of food parcels circulating are not acceptable and not in line with guidance. On 13 January 2021, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State of Education, met the leading school food suppliers and caterers to insist on urgent action to make sure lunch parcels meet the standards we expect. I am grateful to those firms who are working hard with schools to provide nutritious, balanced lunches for children.

If a parent is concerned about the standards of their lunch parcel, they should speak directly with their school. If a parent cannot resolve their concern through their school, they can contact the department. The department will make contact with suppliers where concerns are escalated, to ensure they are following the good practice guidance we have set out. We will also alert the school to confirm appropriate contract management arrangements are in place, so that immediate improvements are made.

Schools and caterers have been provided with extensive guidance from the Department for Education and from the Local Authority Caterers Association on what each food parcel should include. They should follow our school food standards to ensure they are healthy, nutritious and sufficient – they should:

  • Contain food items rather than pre-prepared meals due to food safety considerations.
  • Minimise the fridge and freezer space that schools and families will need to store foods.
  • Contain items which parents can use to prepare healthy lunches for their child/children across the week.
  • Not rely on parents having additional ingredients at home to prepare meals.
  • Not contain items restricted under the school food standards, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/standards-for-school-food-in-england.
  • Cater for pupils who require special diets, for example, allergies, vegetarians or religious diets - schools should ensure there are systems in place to avoid cross-contamination. Guidance on allergies is available here: https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/allergen-guidance-for-food-businesses.
  • Contain appropriate packaging sizes for household use, rather than wholesale sizes.

As was the case over Christmas, vulnerable children and families will continue to receive meals and other essentials over February half term via councils through the £170 million Covid Winter Grant Scheme launched last year. Local authorities understand which groups need support and are best placed to ensure appropriate holiday support is provided – which is why the funding will be distributed by them, rather than schools, who will continue providing meals disadvantaged children during term-time. Families who need support should speak to their local authority.

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