What's happened to Free School Meals provision?

[Carpathian2]

I've just had this from my child's school

Not everyone has an extra bus fare 'slack' in their budget. Not everyone can eat all the food given in the boxes (allergies is an obvious one) meaning that with the best will in the world, someone, somewhere is going hungry. Nor do these boxes recognise that not everyone has the facilities to manage fresh food including working fridges and cookers. Many people have nothing other than a microwave and no eletricity to power it

As I pointed out in my first paragraph, many families have legitimate reasons for needing FSM including those related to the pandemic (sudden job loss/illness/bereavement etc). I have no issue with people genuinely in need of free lunches for their kids.

But the amount of venom towards schools and the government for not providing what they wanted shocked me.

Allergies are taken into account when packing the boxes, as are vegetarian diets etc.

If someone is in such poverty they have no electricity or fridge, would their child not be classed as ‘vulnerable’ and therefore in school?

Sure some people may genuinely be unable to afford one bus fare a week to pick up the box. Just as many other people can’t afford the bus fare to the supermarket to redeem vouchers. How do schools suit everyone?

Maybe I’m being too cynical but don’t you think some parents are trying it on expecting school to cover delivery/travel costs too and need to take a bit of responsibility? Maybe parents need to budget to include that FSM bus fare as a priority, now we’re in lockdown. Make arrangements with a friend or group of friends in the same boat to take turns collecting the boxes so the bus fare is split?
Ask a relative for help collecting?

No evidence of the dependent millions, then?

No, vulnerable children may not be in school. Parents are not obliged to send them in and indeed, may have vulnerability to covid reasons to keep their children at home.

You need some empathy. Schools can’t suit everyone - but suggesting people should be grateful for £6 worth of food it’ll cost them £3 in bus fare to pick up is asking way too much.

Got home from work and checked on the kids (secondary school age so not completly neglected) to find they ate a pack of biscuits between them for lunch (lazy shits but atleast they didn't burn the house down) we have food btw! I don't get vouchers as I get working tax credits as I'm a single parent household but my kids wouldn't eat what's on that list even if we were given a box. 1 has asd and is severely limited to what he will eat (ASD parents know the standard plain basic food thing). Give them vouchers! I didn't understand before and thought people were just being a bit ungrateful for free food but the companies getting £30 is it to make these boxes?! Shocking. My jobs linked to the food bank and I referred a lady there today and was told theres a limit to how many times people can have (5 annually was 3 but they upped it) as they don't want people to rely on it they want them to be able to budget on the money they receive and to only use them in emergencys. If the budgets there though for the FSM food use it the most productive way possible.

Anyone in need do check your council website for a new free government grant called the Covid Winter Fund its for household items like white goods or beds, warm clothing, food, gas and electric top ups and more. My council hasn't advertised it but it's on the website if you search for it.

I'm happy to report that after attending the virtual school council meeting - they advised that they are going back to vouchers from next week!
I posted earlier about how we were expected to collect a packed lunch daily, which was ridiculous when travel should be kept to a minimum and not all pupils live within walking distance.