Free School Meals

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Schools are busy trying to source supermarket gift cards (guess what's the latest thing to go out of stock?!)

Wouldn't it be better to add the £11 pw(ish) to benefits instead?

Our school are delivering packed lunches to all children who qualify for free school meals. I think this is a better solution to ensure the food gets to them. It's a small school though.

We're a special school with a catchment radius of 40+ miles. Also, social distancing?

I would argue that families eligible for FSM should have it delivered from the nearest school kitchen wherever possible. The info needed as to who qualifies is available within each LA. The meals could be delivered by staff who work in schools already and the meals could be left on a doorstep.
So your kids who live 40 miles from your school still get fed, but just not by your actual school.
Alternatively, local cafes forced to shut could be tasked with providing packed lunches again to deliver. Let's be creative folks, we need to think outside the box.

I can imagine if added to benefits the money will be swallowed up in the bank with overdraft, bills etc, physically having the money is far better for them.