Free School Meals Lockdown 2021

[PusheenLove]

Anyone know what's happening with FSM this time?

The Gov say they will be giving support but my school has said they are "having to source help from an external provider". This help will become available on the 11th. Until then I'm guessing food banks?

Christ. I just read the school's post again and they say help will become available on 11th FEB!!

My DDs school contacted those of us who receive fsm just before the christmas break, asking if we wanted to receive shopping vouchers to the value of fsm for the week (as it was then!) delay to the start of this term. I assumed this was a countrywide thing?

....sorry pressed post too soon I also had a phone call Monday to say the vouchers would continue throughout lockdown & could be applied for at any time.

Well that’s not good enough at all, call them, email them and then call again.!

My children’s school are still making the lunches and anyone entitled to free school meals can pick them up daily. I don’t understand that I would’ve thought vouchers would have been easier to stop people unnecessarily going to the school

DS secondary school is offering hampers that last for 2 weeks rather than one. When we parents pointed out that it should be only one week at a time they basically said we should formally complain. We also highlighted that what was in the hamper given they get it at wholesale price is not £30 worth of food, and we as low income families do not appreciate being used as a means to save money.

The problem with trying to give 2 weeks worth of food is that unless the perishable goods are very fresh then it goes off. The hamper they gave during a year group bubble closure in November had potatoes that were sprouting and bananas that had spots and that was supposed to last 2 weeks.

I hope they sort out the vouchers soon as I am shielding again and I have no one to collect the hamper so no matter what my son won’t get anything unless they reintroduce vouchers.

I have 2 children in school received the code for a voucher yesterday for 1 child the other has emailed saying I will get an email by the end of the week. I also have a dd in college and she got 2 £11 put in her bank over Christmas for school dinners but she hasn't got any thing this week.

Sal

Just had the codes through for this week and next. £10 each rather than the £15 like last time. Anyone else have this?

Our council topped up the Christmas (and have said Feb half term will be the same) vouchers to £25pw as they said the government £15 wasn't enough so seems a bit odd. Not that I'm expecting them to top up every week, I'm sure that pot of money is long gone now.

Don't want to bother the school about such a small thing as we can manage with this but just wondered if anyone else had the same

£2.30 a day for my child who isn't in school, which is what a school meal would cost. We got sent 29 school days worth, or 6 weeks in voucher form.

Our school have put up a message saying you can collect a weekly box of food from them if entitled.

Our school just put the money into parent's accounts via BACS.

Didn't everyone have the same set up last time? Weird that it's different this time

I got one 15 pounds off one school and a 11.50 with the secondary school. Before school have said that they will send emails every week with them.

Sal

DS1s secondary haven't said anything yet, we had a choice of shops to get vouchers for in the first lockdown. Then Asda vouchers when he was sent home. Then a choice again over Christmas holidays.

DS2s secondary sent a Tesco voucher for the 1st lockdown. Then dropped a food package off when he was sent home because his bubble burst. Then the same choice of shops over Christmas as DS1s school. They've said this time we can have food parcels but have to collect them.

The parcels are only to the value of £3.50 per child per week

It's in the gov guidelines

@superstar84

The parcels are only to the value of £3.50 per child per week

It's in the gov guidelines

That’s not what the guidelines say. Schools can claim an additional £3.50 per pupil per week towards the cost of the parcel - this is additional to the funding they already receive from the government

I am busy typing an email to my local MP.

Those of you who have received vouchers/money (@airforsharon @Sadless @Dallerup @Whatever9999 @AlphaJura @Sadless ) can you clarify which local authority you are under? Thank you everyone

Lancashire county Council

My daughter goes to college in Wigan and got £22 on her bank this morning for dinner money. Wigan is classed as greater Manchester so don't think that's under Lancashire.

Sal

@PusheenLove we are under Wiltshire council. Last time we had vouchers through Edenred which were ok but was a bit of a faff claiming them and converting them. Also Aldis told me some has already been used and wouldn't scan so I lost out! I don't know in our case if the school are just funding the cash and then they will be reimbursed by the government/council later?

We've just received a voucher from DS1s school.

I've been to collect our food hamper this afternoon, felt so awkward I much prefer a voucher

I am grateful but it does feel embarrassing knocking on the reception door to ask for it and carrying it out of the school gates

Brighton & Hove here. I can recommend avoiding the other school meals thread - it's brutal!

I'm in Gloucestershire @PusheenLove

I’m in Wales so straight into the bank via BACS paid weekly £19.50z