No more free school meal vouchers?

[dottydotterson]

What do you think of the governments decision to end the free school meal vouchers for the summer? Do you agree or not?

I really despise the notion of the “deserving” and “undeserving” poor. It’s hideous.

I genuinely think there are people who would support a return to a workhouse system.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Btw just to point out BROADBAND IS NOT A LUXURY.....most kids have home work set on the internet (even before lockdown), even application forms for benefits are done on line. Broadband is just another utility!

Not to mention job applications. Which is always one of the suggestions when someone mentions struggling financially (like they won't have thought of that themsleves)

And until then we just let kids go hungry? How is that a remotely acceptable solution?

No, the government was right to backtrack because kids shouldn't be punished for poor parenting (in a lot of cases).

@Sandybval

But when parents are consuming at the expense of their child going hungry then it's a big problem.

This is only true if you believe what you see on channel 5 or read in the papers, that everyone is buying fags and booze, which isn't the case at all, that's a tiny tiny minority. There are plenty of reasons why people don't work, and as has been said not having broadband would be giving not only the children in the household, but the adults too a distinct disadvantage as so much of what we do is online now. Plus I cannot say I begrudge someone who has likely been dealt circumstances out of their control from gasp having some pleasure in life. The same for having a TV, going on holiday- bloody hell. There are a lot of narrow minded views on here and judgements, personally I pay my tax, support food banks or charities where I can because I'm fortunate enough to be able to work in a decent job, I honestly cannot find it in myself to feel angry that children will be fed over the summer. I feel angrier that adults don't get the right support. I grew up without any luxuries, meals were often half as much as a growing child needed, initiatives like this would have been life changing.

But isn't Child Tax Credit there to stop child destitution? It's not like there's no government help at all.

The unintended consequence of the £15 per child super market vouchers scheme is that parents of fsm children who are eligible for a school place now wont send them back to school because they do want to loose the money. It has to stop in sept or we will never get these kids back in school.

I volunteer at our local foodbank. The majority of people attending for the first time are a combination of couples where they have both recently lost their jobs, people working full time but on very low rates of pay and difficulties in claiming the correct benefits.

Unfortunately things are going to get worse when the furlough scheme ends with the potential for significant redundancies. Free school meals during term time and over the holidays are vital for these families.

I would ask everyone who can to donate to their local foodbank.

@Disillusioned11

The unintended consequence of the £15 per child super market vouchers scheme is that parents of fsm children who are eligible for a school place now wont send them back to school because they do want to loose the money. It has to stop in sept or we will never get these kids back in school.

There's been no suggestion it should continue on forever. It's for the school holidays.

There will need to be a further debate later about what to do during part-time provision as something will have to be done to ensure children get a lunch during the school term regardless of how many days a week they have a school place.

Disillusioned11

I think you meant

The unintended consequence of the £15 per child super market vouchers scheme is that some parents of fsm children who are eligible for a school place now wont send them back to school because they do want to loose the money. It has to stop in sept or we will never get these kids back in school.

@annabel85 - I’m assuming you have no idea about how little is paid for child tax credits?

@lyralalala

In Scotland, where I live, all pupils in p1-p3 get fsm irrespective of family’s financial circumstances. This is NOT means tested! The money that could be saved, by not giving fsm to those who can easily afford it, would go a long way towards feeding those who DO actually need help!

@tootsie321 You might have got less sharp replies if you'd pointed out you live in Scotland (the thread was about England planning to not provide lunches) and that you were talking about universal free lunches as opposed to sounding like you were pontificating offensively about FSM in general

I have to be honest, I didn’t know whether the same applied to the rest of the U.K. However, to be fair, I did say “My dgs gets them, as does every other p1 (?p2, in our area) pupil.” I actually got it wrong, it is all pupils in p1-p3.

I also pointed out that ”If the free meals were only given to the pupils who actually need them, then the money saved could be used to help those families in need during holiday times. Children should not go hungry! It is a disgrace that that can happen, in this country.”

It was most certainly not my intention to pontificate about free school meals! I think (hope) I made it quite clear that I considered children going hungry is a f@@@king disgrace. However the country, especially now, cannot afford to write a blank cheque, but need to prioritise those who really need help. That is not just school pupils during term time, but school aged and younger children all year round!

But isn't Child Tax Credit there to stop child destitution? It's not like there's no government help at all.

@annabel85 the criteria for FSM while claiming CTC is:
Child Tax Credit, provided they are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by HMRC

£16k/year in this economy does not go that far at all and does not guarantee to stop child destitution.

@BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou

I didn't know that, will find out when census day is next time and make sure DD has her school meal then, thank you!

£16k/year in this economy does not go that far at all and does not guarantee to stop child destitution.

I appreciate it doesn't go far but it's enough to make sure your child doesn't go hungry with responsible budgeting/parenting.

I appreciate it doesn't go far but it's enough to make sure your child doesn't go hungry with responsible budgeting/parenting.

Can't be sure if you're being serious or just stirring the pot, either of way, it's obviously you are clueless.

@annabel85

£16k/year in this economy does not go that far at all and does not guarantee to stop child destitution.

I appreciate it doesn't go far but it's enough to make sure your child doesn't go hungry with responsible budgeting/parenting.

You are just deliberately trying to provoke people now.

@annabel85 not always with the benefits cap in place, rent, utilities and childcare costs will soon eat up the £1300/ month available.
Also feeding children quantity and feeding children quality are very different things. Malnutrition in obese children is a very real problem, healthy eating IS more expensive.

@3ismylot

But isn't Child Tax Credit there to stop child destitution? It's not like there's no government help at all.

@annabel85 the criteria for FSM while claiming CTC is:
Child Tax Credit, provided they are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by HMRC

£16k/year in this economy does not go that far at all and does not guarantee to stop child destitution.

Since 2018 English school children in Year Three or above and in households receiving Universal Credit will be eligible for free school meals if their family earns below £7,400 per year, before benefits are taken into account.

£7400 is nothing, the threshold should be much higher.

[quote 3ismylot]@annabel85 not always with the benefits cap in place, rent, utilities and childcare costs will soon eat up the £1300/ month available.
Also feeding children quantity and feeding children quality are very different things. Malnutrition in obese children is a very real problem, healthy eating IS more expensive.[/quote]
Fair enough. I agree with the government U-Turn anyway because no kid should go hungry.

@annabel85 - I suggest you read up on holiday hunger where some school children return after the school holidays thinner. Poverty in the U.K. was rising before COVID but now it’s getting worse and I hate to think about the impact of Brexit onto the poverty levels.

TheFormerPorpentiaScamander

Wait till you see the dfe published figures for exactly who is eligible to attend school and who is actually attending school (if they ever do publish them) before you decree ‘some’ .... some of us have got those figures ... I suspect you don’t.

lyralalala every time the govt look to stop it because, you know it’s school holidays when children would normally not be in school but somehow that’s become irrelevant, there is an outcry and the govt cave.

Boris magic money tree has made JC look positively reasonably but hey ...... what’s another 120 million. Children are ‘starving’ because the one group of people who have no drop in their income (& some cases an increase) need to have more. As for the rest of us ..... well not to worry .... we all know we will have to pick up bill .... but we don’t matter.

@peppapigisscottish I know, but annabel85 was specifically talking about CTC being there to stop child destitution so I was explaining that threshold.

The UC threshold is beyond ridiculous I agree, there needs to be a major review of what classes as a suitable standard of living in this country

Well the majority of children I know of who are already back in school are fsm children so it is only some parents who would keep them at home. And tbh the vast majority of families I know claiming fsm are the same families who are moaning they need a break and want their DC back in school asap

every time the govt look to stop it because, you know it’s school holidays when children would normally not be in school but somehow that’s become irrelevant, there is an outcry and the govt cave.

Boris magic money tree has made JC look positively reasonably but hey ...... what’s another 120 million. Children are ‘starving’ because the one group of people who have no drop in their income (& some cases an increase) need to have more. As for the rest of us ..... well not to worry .... we all know we will have to pick up bill .... but we don’t matter.

What a load of rubbish. No active drop income for some of the people receiving FSM isn't the same as them not having to stretch their money further.

Groceries are more expensive, people are having to shop in limited places due to lack of transport, their usual help from families/other groups is missing. Their income is having to cover more thing.

Many of the children on FSM would, as has been explained many times on the thread, have been caught up by holiday clubs, local initiatives (in many areas would actually still be able to go to school for lunch each day) and that is not available this year.

Stop begruding the people that already have the least a small amount of help ffs.

Lots of myths on here. I receive etc. I receive the vouchers for my 3 children. I swap them for a Tesco/Asda/Aldi gift card and then I can buy whatever I want - alcohol, clothes etc. I don’t obviously! I actually feel embarrassed that I receive them even though I am on minimum wage and a single parent. I don’t need them. I am a knob and use them to buy stuff to put into a food bank. Once I used them to go towards my shopping because I had to buy ink for my printer due to the kids home all day every day. I might not need them but there are plenty of families who do (I used to be one of them) and I think the government have made the right decision to continue them. I will continue to use my vouchers to buy food, clothes etc for people who aren’t as lucky as me.

I receive WTC that should say