Government takes u-turn on free school meals this May half term

Schools minister Nick Gibb has said that the government would be funding free school meals through its voucher scheme this May half term, despite it being halfway through the week.

The announcement was revealed during an education committee hearing this morning.

This is despite the Department for Education previously saying it had no plans to fund vouchers over the holiday.

The late notice will come too late for many schools to take advantage of vouchers, which are normally ordered weeks in advance.

Tulip Siddiq MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Children and Early Years, said: “Labour has always supported families accessing free school meals over half-term, but announcing this U-turn during the week itself is far too late.

“Families have been extremely worried that they would not be able to feed their children properly this week as a result of the Government’s initial reluctance. The fact that a petition of over 100,000 signatures was needed shows how much worry and confusion this has caused.

“Food poverty is sadly on the rise in this crisis. Free school meals are the only proper meal that some children get, so it is vital that they continue to be funded.”

Over 100,000 people signed Christina Adane’s Change.org petition calling on Boris Johnson to fund school meals this half term.