Issue - meetings

[Report of the Director for Customers, Transformation and Resources. To be introduced by the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Families]

This report seeks approval from Cabinet to initiate an expansion of eligibility for free school meals to defined groups of primary school pupils who are not currently eligible for free school meals from Summer Term 2021. 

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Families was pleased to introduce the report which sought approval to an expansion of eligibility for free school meals to defined groups of primary school pupils who were not currently eligible for free school meals from Summer Term 2021.

The Deputy Leader spoke about the underlying principle of creating fair access to food and how this new policy would help 800 children per day have a free school meal. The Deputy Leader emphasised that this provision was even more important at this time with the pandemic and families impacted by loss of employment and having to make unfair choices between paying bills and buying food.

The importance of healthy nutrition for supporting learning was highlighted as well as the importance of making an investment in children’s future, in the borough, whilst tackling poverty and inequality.

In response to a question from Cllr Ogiehor, it was noted that the composition of food parcels was created by the government and schools were asked to follow this guidance. The Council were very clear on having provision of free school meal vouchers to provide families with a choice of foods. Therefore, the type of issues expected recently with the oddly assembled parcels would not be encountered.

RESOLVED

To agree:

1.The implementation of an expanded Free School Meals (FSM) offer for the following priority groups of children:

(i)            Children aged 7-10 in families who live in temporary accommodation, Council housing, or social housing and claim Universal Credit or legacy benefits but who are not currently eligible for FSM.

(ii)          Children aged 7-10 in families who claim Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) to help cover housing costs while experiencing financial hardship who are not currently eligible for FSM.

(iii)         Children aged 7-10 in families with no recourse to public funds.

(iv)         Children whose parent(s) may temporarily find themselves in financial need.

2. The expanded FSM provision for the period April 2021 to April 2023 in accordance with MTFS 2021/2026.
3. The discretionary FSM fund for schools, as set out at para.6.15.
4. That the above recommendations are subject to Full Council approval of the annual budget for 2021/2022 and MTFS 2021/2026.
5. The period of the expanded FSM provision be subject to review and evaluation, the findings of which will be brought back to Cabinet for a further decision prior to budget setting in April 2023.

Reasons for decision

This proposal expands free school meal eligibility to approximately an additional 650 children between the ages of 7 and 10. These children live in families who are structurally disadvantaged as a result of high housing costs, low incomes, and gaps in the benefits system. They are:

·         Children aged 7-10 in families who live in temporary accommodation, Council housing, or social housing and claim Universal Credit or legacy benefits but who are not currently eligible for FSM.

·         Children aged 7-10 in families who claim Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) to help cover housing costs while experiencing financial hardship who are not currently eligible  ...  view the full minutes text for item 406