What are children supposed to get in lockdown?
As taken from the Government online guidance and BBC news report.
Schools must provide food for pupils attending in person if they normally qualify for free school meals.
If they are at home, they can receive food parcels or vouchers.
In England, schools are "strongly encouraged" to send food parcels rather than vouchers. Schools using this option get an extra £3.50 per week, per child, on top of the funding they usually receive for free school meals in term time.
The government says these parcels should:
- contain food items rather than pre-prepared meals
- minimise fridge and freezer space needed
- contain items which parents can use to prepare healthy lunches
- not rely on parents having extra ingredients at home to prepare meals
- not contain items restricted under school food standards
- cater for special diets where necessary including allergies, vegetarians or religious diets
- contain food packaged in household rather than wholesale sizes
If schools can't offer food parcels they can consider "other local arrangements," including vouchers for local shops and supermarkets.
Schools can claim back up to £15 per pupil, per week, for these vouchers, on top of their usual free school meals funding.
The government also says it will reopen its national voucher scheme "as soon as possible". This will provide supermarket vouchers through an online portal.
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Useful Links to Further Information
- THE BRITISH INSTITUTE OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT (BIFM)- Founded in 1993, BIFM is a professional body for facilities management, both individuals and organisations.
- FIRST POINT ASSESSMENT (FPAL)- Is a supplier management community supporting the European oil and gas industry.
- THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH (CIEH)- A charity that is the professional and leading voice for environmental and public health and safety.
- INSTITUTE OF HOSPITALITY- A professional membership group that provides support and information for those who work or study in the hospitality and tourism industries.
- FOOD STANDARD AGENCY (FSA)- The governmental department responsible for food safety and hygiene throughout the UK.
- THE UNIVERSITY CATERERS ORGANISATION (TUCO)- TUCO is a professional membership group for in-house caterers within the higher education sector, and is one of the leading organisations of its kind in the UK.
- BRITISH HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION (BHA)- An agenda-setter and members organisation for the hospitality and tourism industry that helps to promote the interest of operators, brands and owners across the hospitality and tourism sectors.
- ROYAL SOCIETY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH (RSPH)- An independent and multi-disciplinary charity who’s mission is to improve public health and wellbeing.
- INTERNATIONAL FACILITY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (IFMA)- An international association for facilities management professionals, supporting 24,000 members in 105 countries.
