Home   Kent   News   Article

Kent County Council told to 'Get a grip' on free school meal provision

Kent's poorest children must receive adequate food provision throughout the school summer months, a county councillor says.

Thousands of youngsters from low-income UK families have become reliant on free school meals for their daily nutrition amid the Covid lockdown, but the government-led scheme has received major criticism.

Low-income families have become reliant on free school meals. Stock image
Low-income families have become reliant on free school meals. Stock image

At least 24 Kent schools have been unable to obtain free school meal vouchers online during the pandemic, according to Kent County Council (KCC).

KCC's Liberal Democrat education spokesman, Cllr Trudy Dean, said: "Some schools are having to spend money on food rather than education and that should not happen.

"This is something that KCC needs to get a grip on as the local education authority."

KCC's cabinet member for education, Cllr Richard Long (Con), says County Hall has been working with three catering suppliers to ensure daily meals are provided to vulnerable youngsters and children of key workers who have been attending school during the public health emergency.

Speaking during a KCC full council meeting yesterday, he said: "KCC has paid 100% of the cost of free school meals based on the numbers of meals served over the preceding three months.

Cllr Trudy Dean. Stock picture
Cllr Trudy Dean. Stock picture

"For those children who have not attended, schools have made a packed lunch available for collection or arranged for the use of food parcels or ‘hampers’, or vouchers either through Edenred or another provider. Many parents have preferred to receive a voucher."

The national free school meal scheme is offered to the UK's poorest families. They are issued with either an electronic voucher or gift card worth £15 each week per pupil, to spend at shops including Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Waitrose and M&S.

The Department for Education's official contractor, Edenred, runs an online portal which schools access to obtain meal vouchers. An 'eCode’ is then sent directly to the parents, who can choose food from a range of supermarkets.

Around 400 Kent schools have been able to access vouchers from Edenred at least once, but many have struggled to log onto the site, some have received invalid codes while others face delays in receiving the meal vouchers.

KCC's education cabinet member added: "There have been well publicised difficulties with the roll out of this scheme."

A campaign was spearheaded Marcus Rashford. Photo: PA
A campaign was spearheaded Marcus Rashford. Photo: PA

On Wednesday, Boris Johnson's government said the school meal scheme would be extended through the summer holidays and 1.3million children in England will be eligible. This came because of a high-profile campaign by Premier League striker Marcus Rashford.

A £120m Covid summer food fund will now offer six-week food vouchers to children eligible for free school meals in England during the holidays.

KCC's main opposition leader, Cllr Rob Bird (Lib Dem), said: "I suspect if some members of the government had showed the same level of compassion, commitment and common sense as footballers like Rashford then we would be in a much better place."

News from our universities, local primary and secondary schools including Ofsted inspections and league tables can be found here.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More