Following media coverage of a debate and vote on an opposition day motion relating to extending a voucher scheme for those eligible for Free School Meals Kevin responds here to some of the points made:
Unlike Government business or legislation, opposition day motions are statements of opinion, rather than specific proposals to extend a provision or fund it. Oppositions use them to support points they are making in the media, rather than set out plans to deliver an idea in practice or how they would fund it.
Over recent years a range of changes have been made to the eligibility criteria for free school meals (FSM) with many more benefitting from them now than was the case a decade ago. This includes their expansion to all infants, expansion of breakfast club provision (Which sees many children benefit from getting two free meals a day) and moves to support summer activity schemes which can also provide lunch to those from disadvantaged backgrounds who would receive FSM during term time.
Provision for free schools meals has, since their introduction in decades past, primarily been during term time only, with no requirement for schools to continue this provision during school holidays. This is reflected in the way employment of staff is structured to this timetable, with many being parents themselves, and the facilities to supply meals being part of the school buildings, not separate facilities designed for takeaway\delivery services.
Given the unprecedented move to close all schools earlier this year, during what would have been term time, as part of measures to tackle the Coronavirus, moves were made to reduce the impact of this on those families eligible for free school meals by providing support from free school meals whilst schools were closed and through the summer. This included the national voucher scheme which saw over £380 million worth of voucher codes redeemed into supermarket e-gift cards by schools and families with over 20,000 schools placing orders. Some schools did provide food directly or allowed it to be collected, but this was mostly during the term time period.
The eligibility criteria for FSM has also temporarily been extended. This included some groups who have no recourse to public funds, but who may have lost work during recent months. Further details can be found here -
As schools and their kitchens are now open, meals are available for all pupils entitled to one as normal. Schools have also been asked to work with their existing suppliers to provide meals or food parcels to pupils eligible for benefits-related free school meals where they are self-isolating. Meals should be available free of charge to:
• all infant pupils
• pupils who meet the benefits-related free school meals eligibility criteria
Turning to the vote on an opposition motion calling for the provisions made in summer to also be extended into the Christmas School Holidays. As mentioned above there are some practical considerations in relation to how such a policy could actually be delivered during a time of year which has not been covered at any point before, even if we assume the key public holidays (Christmas Day and New Year’s Day) would not be included. This includes issues with requiring\compelling staff to work through them and school buildings to be opened for their provision during the day which meant the idea of actually providing meals was not one anyone suggested was practical, despite the image some are trying to give.
Whilst use of cash vouchers provided an emergency provision which could be used to quickly cover a gap earlier this year, there were some concerns about how they could be used and where, plus it is near impossible to ensure any such scheme only benefits its intended recipients in the way a meal served to them does. The wilder claims made by some online about them being used to buy items like cigarettes and lottery tickets are not correct, supermarkets would refuse them as a matter of policy for such purchases even if attempted, yet it is not practically possible to restrict them to items which would form part of a child's lunch. This type of system also comes with an administrative cost as schools in effect need to source and administer the vouchers which are in effect cash to spend at a shop, rather than direct provision of a meal to a child which is what the FSM scheme has always been based on.
Now 99% of pupils are back to school and those eligible are receiving Free School Meals the situation is different plus financial support packages more widely, including more support announced by the Chancellor this week, are supporting many families. An additional £9bn is also being pumped into the welfare system, through which it makes more sense to provide needed support at this time, rather than via a separate voucher system or supporting the significant costs of opening school buildings during the Christmas period to provide meals (Assuming staff can be required or found to work over this period).
In addition the billions of pounds being injected into wider support to our economy is helping families meet their bills and we are also seeing the Government make significant support available for our bay, with another £1.6m of non-ringfenced funding made available to support services provided by Torbay Council just this week. All these help support families at this time of need and the Government will take further steps as needed.
