Government U-turn on Free School Meals - Easter Holidays

[noblegiraffe]

The government has u-turned and will be making free school meal vouchers available over the Easter Holidays after previously stating that they wouldn’t.

schoolsweek.co.uk/free-school-meal-vouchers-will-now-be-available-over-easter/

The organisation of this has been absolutely appalling.

A bit late. Most schools have now closed down for Easter and I know my sons school will do everything they can to not do this.

I’d be keen to know what schools are still open over Easter as the article says. I know some secondary schools have staff coming in and out at times but they aren’t open with full staff usually.

On Saturday...

We have already paid out for our students.

Oh wow I’ve just seen where the government have said schools have to remain open.

I know we’re in a pandemic but key workers staff/NHS still need a break or the sheer exhaustion will finish them off at this rate and not corona.

That would be nice if I had actually received the vouchers. Not had any

We are open over Easter holidays - primary

Is this for all children receiving free school meals or means tested only does anyone know?
My LO is yr 2, we don’t receive any benefits but we’re not wealthy. An extra £15 a week would come in handy for the increased grocery bills.

It’s the kids who are eligible for FSM because their parents qualify due to low income. Kids on universal free school meals due to being in KS1 don’t qualify for vouchers.

Our school is open over the holidays apart from Good Friday/Easter Monday.

As far as I know @Monsterpage the vouchers/help towards food is not for the universal meals for all KS1 but only the ones who would still be eligible through the certain benefits.

I thought so and hadn’t even looked into it but thought I’d check just in case. I’m glad something has been arranged for those that need it - shame there has been a delay, so many lessons learnt from this.

We have been sorting this ourselves (mixture of vouchers and food parcels) for two weeks PumpkinP. We only got the email for term time vouchers at the end of the week. Hopefully your school will be on it now.

I’m calling them Monday, as if I don’t I doubt I will every hear anything everyone else I know has been getting the vouchers for a few weeks! (Different schools)

My school is open over Easter, including Good Friday and Easter Monday.

The U-turn on vouchers is causing us a bit of a headache. As this is the first we've heard of it, and we already have parents emailing to ask about when they will receive them.

My dd's actual school isn't open over the hol but another one in their academy trust is with extended hours from 8-5 INCLUDING both Bank Holidays

another one in their academy trust is with extended hours from 8-5 INCLUDING both Bank Holidays

They're not the only ones. We have several schools locally who are offering extended hours.

Yep all the schools near me are open for key workers children & vulnerable children, the gov has told them they have to do this to help support key-workers continuing to work.
In my sons primary school there are only 3 children (all part time) so I don't see the issue?

I had a lovely phone call from DD1's SS to say that if I needed to work (I'm a nurse but recently left my hospital before CV took hold here) then they were offering 24/7 care, even if it meant the HT coming to sit with DD1 (SN). It isn't needed at the moment, but just the fact that they are willing to help in such an extraordinary way is astounding.

then they were offering 24/7 care, even if it meant the HT coming to sit with DD1 (SN).

I have no problem opening during the holidays, but that's going too far. 24/7 care goes way beyond what schools should be offering, and caring for a children their own home is putting the HT in a very risky position.

Tbh, I think the point they were making is that they are willing to help parents of tricky kids to do essential work. Just the sentiment was so kind - kids with SN aren't the most attractive prospect for childcare. I am not going to be taking up any childcare - if I'm asked to return to work I would only do it in hours that I can manage without childcare.