Commenting on the latest guidance on free school meals, published
this morning (1), which indicates no provision during February
half term, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the
National Education Union, said:
"It is simply astonishing that the Government has, once again,
revealed its total disregard for those hardest hit by the ongoing
health pandemic. After a year in which the stark inequalities
faced by millions of children and young people has been at the
forefront of the minds of the public, the ugly spectre of holiday
hunger is now looming yet again. This week, , and
made public statements about how appalled they were
by the quality of food parcels shared on Twitter. But that is put
in the shade by today's confirmation that free school meals will
not go ahead over half term. These are battles which should not
have to be repeatedly fought.
"No child should wake up feeling anxious about where their next
meal is coming from, and even now millions are still waiting for
the reinstatement of the national food voucher scheme after weeks
of struggling to access food parcels. Suggesting that local
councils will be able to recreate a brand new system of supplying
Free School Meals for the week of half term using the Covid
Winter Grant Scheme is an unnecessary logistical nightmare, and
the confusion and chaos this will cause puts millions of children
at risk. The anguish, not to mention hunger, this decision will
cause is immeasurable. Ministers should hang their heads in shame
and unless they reverse this decision never again speak of their
concern for disadvantaged children. Their actions show very
clearly that they do not care."
ENDS
Editor’s Note
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools
“Schools do not need to provide lunch parcels or vouchers
during the February half-term. There is wider government support
in place to support families and children outside of term-time
through the Covid Winter Grant Scheme.”
