Free school meals families

[Fraggle45]

Has anyone had any guidelines about the vouchers mentioned yesterday?

We have 2 children who receive the pupil premium for free school meals but haven't heard anything

We did remove them from school on Monday so haven't been able to pop in to the office and ask

Oh so now you’re getting your posts deleted Bulb!!? Idiot.

Yet you are the one with the foul language. Ironic isn’t it?

Why did you ask for your posts to be taken down then?

Do ignore Bulb pps. Do not take what they said to heart. They are obviously covered in organic fertiliser matter, ready for Spring.

I think I will. Calling people ‘arseholes’ for spending a £20 voucher that was sent to them from the government on lunches for the week. Hardly selfish.

This virus really has brought out the worst in people

And thankfully brought out the best in others.

My school phoned me yesterday they are doing food parcels went and collected today was given loads of rice and pasta about 10 large baking potatoes and some smaller ones 2 cucumbers tomatoes and carrots

Our vouchers came through on email last night, 2 days worth so £4.60

Annoying thing is they can't be spent online and we are in isolation 🤦‍♀️

I've emailed them and they are valid for 12 months so guess we'll have to save them up and spend them afterwards

£4.60?! What are you meant to get with that. Your school can change what they're doing, I would contact them to feedback that a voucher that can be used online would be more helpful as you can't leave the house.

I'm sure that £12.50 pw towards the weekly food shop will help, but it did strike me that £2.50 a day wouldn't even pay for a sandwich meal deal

Surely you wouldn’t be buying a meal deal every day though, that wouldn’t be very sensible. A loaf of bread, some ham or cheese, multipack of crisps, some sort of fruit. Easily covered by £12.50?

The money you should be getting should be more than the fsm budget. That's the guidelines. £2.50 a day is not very much all things considered.

I thought £2.50 a day was fine, my kids are eating more than usual but not that much more. For variety I bought some cheap ready meals as well as sandwich stuff and sausage rolls, fruit etc.
I was pleasantly surprised with the vouchers and how quickly they got them out to us. Though having to use Tesco was annoying, as we usually shop in Lidl, I am lucky that there is one near my work so it's easy to access.
Primary school haven't sent a thing, not even acknowledged our existence!

We've had sandwiches, yogurt and a drink left on the doorstep most days since my ds has been off. The first day we got noodles, pasta and cakes.

They did say they give £20 in vouchers per child per week in the government guidelines but I think that's changed

The school are doing their best and only received the details of the scheme on Wednesday

It works out at £11.50 a week per child but I think that's fine as it's supposed to cover lunch as we can easily get bread, ham, cheese, fruit, crisps/treat bar for that

I'm very grateful they have done this as it's helped us out

We're fortunate that we can wait to spend the vouchers once we're out of the 12 week isolation but realise others aren't in that position

That's the guidelines. £2.50 a day is not very much all things considered

How much do you think it should be then?! £2.50 is more than enough to cover a lunch no?

There's an update to this topic with guidance for schools now having been set out.

Schools should have been emailed yesterday, detailing the process they should follow.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools

I get £11.50 a week for the dc at primary and £15 a week for d's who is in 6th form.

The schools sorted them very quicly

Still waiting to hear from my children’s school. We havent had anything at all.

Our secondary has been sending out £15 per week in vouchers for one of the nearest supermarkets.

They are paper vouchers that can't be used online, and so as we're "shielding" they're of no use to us until the pandemic has passed. It looks like the new scheme may be better suited going forwards.

All these people saying they are struggling to feed their kids what do you do in the big school holidays? I can understand if you are medically exempt but to expect schools to individually delivery sandwiches on a daily basis is taking the biscuit. I think a service like this should be for the people who have no other choice like people who have disabled children ect and the elderly I can totally understand. An extra £12.50 on top of your food shop is reasonable as it can buy a pack of meat and veg per child and you would still have money left.
Times are hard now and when this is over the economy will be in a far worse state! I think there’s definitely a lot of people taking advantage of the system..

@March20 oh be quiet. Why come on a thread if you've got nothing useful to say? You've got no idea of people's individual circumstances. If a child is pupil premium then they are considered to be disadvantaged, their parent(s) income will be very low. They are entitled to these meals, no one is taking the piss. Many children will go hungry in the school holidays which is why these vouchers are important while they're off school for so long.

I think it is useful. I’m sorry but we are NOT in a 3rd world Country. On a normal school day you would give your child breakfast and at school they get a basic small meal and maybe milk. By the time a child gets home they would have their more substantial meal in the evening. My point was we all have to feed our kids in the Easter holidays/summer (usually) I’m not sure why we Brits want to claim hardship & continue to have numerous kids but are moaning about giving our kids a sandwich. I think SOME are fully taking advantage hence why there’s been a benefit cap Ect and this has affected the genuine people in need. People moaning about an extra £12.50 in a voucher per child just want it all not everyone receives vouchers on a low income.

Our school are emailing vouchers which are £15 a week and the parents chose the supermarket where they want to spend them.

@March20 I work in a school and yes some parents are taking advantage a bit but there are parents who are genuinely struggling and do need it.