Free school meals extended over the holiday- are they needed?

[GotAnyGrapes17]

Have been chatting about this with various people during the day. Opinions go from "if you can't afford a couple of quid a week to feed your kids something is wrong" to people feeling this is a hugely essential scheme.

I just wondered if anyone who is entitled for FSM genuinely struggles during school holidays with out them.

No judgment here, my child use to be entitled to free school meals, however I didn't miss them during the school holidays....I am just interested to hear other views.

I’m also a nurse on a band 5 wage, I don’t begrudge any family an extra £2.14 a day to feed their children.

The govmnt should not be wasting money on free school meals for kids in those early school years of their parents don’t need it. My kids are at a school in a good area with lots of v wealthy parents and the fact that all those kids get free school
Meals in the early years is baffling

I've said this ^ from when this ludicrous policy first came in.

What I find incredibly sad is that so many on this thread seem to be thinking it is some kind of race to the bottom. If you are one of the many posters who are 'just about managing' why can you possibly be thinking it is a bad thing for someone with less than you to be given some food vouchers ?
I wish there was more done about the tax avoidance from the richest of the rich - both individuals and companies. Then we'd be talking about billions, not scrapping over a £15 voucher.
Perhaps listen to a bit more Marcus Rashford and a bit less Katie Hopkins.

@C130 thank you

Haven’t read the thread. I was on FSM as a kid. We never went hungry, whether in the holidays or otherwise. I genuinely don’t understand what parents are spending their money on if not on food for their kids. We had no spare money for anything but it was unthinkable not to buy food.

I also worry about the precedent of the government caving in to pressure from a millionaire celebrity. What’s next?

I am glad they are doing this and that hungry children will be fed. At the same time it will not solve the issue of growing inequality.

I also agree that the free early years meals should be scrapped. As an ex dinner lady I know first hand that much of that food goes to waste.

I am sure some children need the vouchers, although I think it would be better if it was the food that was provided.

I dont get why middle class and rich parents of children in KS1 are being given them.

they aren't. Only people who qualify get them.

I dont get why middle class and rich parents of children in KS1 are being given them

They’re not. I have children in year 1 and reception and rest assured we are not being given vouchers. They are means tested.

that is only the very poor. Other people need them too but don't get them - they struggle on. The bar is set pretty low.

PJ case people are in destitution. They are unable to feed their children. Their children are going without. This is not the same as when you were young.

Please educate yourself.

@Drivingdownthe101

I dont get why middle class and rich parents of children in KS1 are being given them

They’re not. I have children in year 1 and reception and rest assured we are not being given vouchers. They are means tested.

Perhaps you could explain? ALL children in KS1 in England get FSM, regardless of income, they are NOT means tested (thanks to the Lib Dems).

@zombie, what’s been talked about for the early years children in school is the universal free school meals for those in reception and year 1 [maybe year 2 also I’m not sure) Which is not means tested at all and I and others were saying how stupid that is. Completely separate from the vouchers though that this thread is about, which are just for low income families

For the people saying don't have kids you can't afford, maybe don't be so smug. It doesn't always work like that.

When I had my kids I was married to a top tax bracket earner. We wanted for nothing. Then in 2019 he left me for a girl at work. I hadn't worked for years as didn't need to. Me and the kids were left with nothing.

He paid himself in dividends so CMS is a tiny aMount. I now claim UC, I work and I claim free school meals because I need them. The extra vouchers issued over the school holidays mean I can feed myself and my kids. Get your head out of your arse and realise that your life can change in the blink of an eye and there is fuck all you can do about it.

I've also been furloughed from my job so I'm
Not even earning minimum wage at the moment

Thanks @Budapestpest I didn't realise that.

For the people saying don't have kids you can't afford, maybe don't be so smug. It doesn't always work like that.
Yes
I've never not worked longest I've not worked is maternity leave .
I've worked hard to get where I am while bringing up 2 dc .low & behold Covid happens and my job is at risk so if I loose my job I will struggle . it really is simple as that not everyone can afford to build up savings .

@AnnaNimmity
www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/asda-abused-school-meal-vouchers-4127212
You know nothing about how destitute my family was. Benefits in the 1980s weren’t generous I can tell you. Educate yourself.

The blanket provision of FSM for young children has not been provided since lockdown started, so there must be a significant saving by now.

FSM for all is a brilliant scheme for so many reasons, but of course no-one is expecting summer holiday vouchers to be provided for anyone other than those on pupil premium.

Yes they are needed more than ever. Job losses set to rise etc

@PJcase I've been waiting for someone to find an article about a minority abusing the system. But that is not the majority and we should not punish them for that. I do not know your situation growing up but I can tell you about the children I teach who come to school and take food from teachers desks. I can tell you that over 30% of our school attended breakfast club as they don't get it at home and over 2/3 are on free school meals and I can tell you that when they come back after the summer some look so ill and malnourished after 6 weeks of no meals provided. Yes we can sit and blame parents, why are they not providing for their children etc etc but there is a child who suffers in this. We have petitioned for years to get meals provided through holidays. Schools have opened and funded doing this in previous summer holidays without government support. Just because you and your family were able to survive without support doesn't mean all can today and I don't want to be a part of a society that doesn't help these people.

But that’s not that this thread is about ZombieFan. Yes in ‘normal’ times KS1 get free school meals. This thread is discussing the vouchers that are being provided while children aren’t in school due to Covid (and over the holidays). They are means tested, and are only being provided to those who would be eligible for FSM’s due to specific criteria.
So yes, my year 1 and reception children are entitled to FSM when in school. They are not entitled to the vouchers that are being provided while they are out of school.

I'm in a similar position to Simonfromharlow.

Ended up in total shit when my husband had an affair and walked leaving me with everything to pay, a baby and a small child. I work two jobs to fit around the children but I still need and qualify for universal credit and fsm.

Last summer I ate one small meal a day so they could have at least two. Generally though I get fed at work and am allowed to bring leftovers home which often covers dinner. Not now though as furlough and uncertain I will be able to go back as the business is in a city centre and the customers are office workers who have been told they are to work from home until December.

It is all uncertain. Your life really can change in the blink of an eye.

I am very grateful the fsm vouchers will be available over summer. Incidentally our voucher will only be a total of £15 a week as the youngest is not quite at school yet, so £1 each per day sadly means no caviar here

@Pissflapflip sorry you are in a similar situation!

@Pissflapflip sorry to hear of your situation.

If it's any help at all I was in a pretty similar situation. I remember once waiting for tax credits to come in and going to the £ shop and buying bags of tuna and pasta for me and my daughter to live on!

I know it's not much comfort at the moment, but once they are at school it gets so much easier, I stumbled into a job that has now turned into a career, which means although I'm not on a huge salary I am self sufficient and there are prospects to move up and earn more. I'm sure you will too

What annoys me in my case is that when I was first a single parent & still working, I had much less money coming in than I do now but had to pay for school meals, now I can easily afford school meals but am getting £15 a week in vouchers as ds qualifies for free school meals.