Guidance

Providing school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

Guidance for schools and local authorities on school meals arrangements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

From:
Department for Education
Published
19 March 2020
Last updated
5 October 2021 — See all updates

This publication was withdrawn on

Guidance on providing free school meals is available, including information on providing free school meals to families with no recourse to public funds.

Applies to England

Documents

[WITHDRAWN] Providing school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

HTML

[WITHDRAWN] Coronavirus (COVID-19): temporary extension of free school meals eligibility to NRPF groups

HTML

[WITHDRAWN] Sample free school meals application form for NRPF groups

PDF, 589 KB, 4 pages

Details

This guidance explains what schools should do when providing school meals.

Schools should provide meal options for all pupils who are in school. Meals should be available free of charge to:

  • all infant pupils
  • pupils who meet the benefits-related free school meals eligibility criteria

Where pupils eligible for benefits related free school meals are self-isolating at home due to coronavirus (COVID-19), schools should work with their school catering team or food provider to provide good quality lunch parcels.

Updates to this page

Published 19 March 2020
Last updated 5 October 2021 + show all updates

  1. Updated 'Providing school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak' to provide information on the Household Support Fund.

  2. Updated 'Providing school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak' to remove information on the claims window for additional costs and confirm the extension of the COVID Local Support Grant funding up to 30 September 2021.

  3. 'Providing school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak' guidance updated to include information on the claims window for additional costs.

  4. Updated information about claiming for additional costs, the Winter Grant Scheme and the Covid Local Support Grant, plus further information about free meals in further education.

  5. Guidance updated to include information on providing school meals from 8 March 2021.

  6. We have updated the guidance to include information about supplier relief payments and made changes to the period the support covers. We have also added Farmfoods to the list of supermarkets available and updated the information on how to order vouchers.

  7. Updated information about how to order vouchers, sending eCodes to families, supermarkets and redeeming the vouchers.

  8. Updated the guidance to include information on the support available to schools during the national lockdown.

  9. We have added information on support for clinically extremely vulnerable pupils eligible for benefits-related free school meals, the Covid Winter Grant Scheme and the expansion of the Holiday Activities and Food programme. We have also updated the content on school food contracts.

  10. Added link to guidance on free school meals from the Lead Association for Catering in Education.

  11. Updated the guidance on the temporary extension of free school meals eligibility to NRPF groups. This update removes references to the Covid Summer Food Fund and COVID-19 specific terminology.

  12. Updated information on school food from September 2020, universal infant free school meals, additional costs incurred before summer 2020, school food contracts and free school meals eligibility. Also includes guidance on providing water in school and support for pupils who have to stay at home due to coronavirus (COVID-19).

  13. Updated guidance and application form for the temporary extension of free school meals eligibility to NRPF groups. This includes the increase in the income threshold from £16,190 per annum to £31,500 per annum for London and £28,200 for areas outside of London.

  14. Updated application form and guidance on the temporary extension of free school meals eligibility to NRPF groups. This is to reflect the change in annual household income threshold to £16,190 after tax.

  15. We have added Company Shop Group and Iceland, including The Food Warehouse Stores, to the list of supermarkets you can order eGift cards for.

  16. Added further information on the Covid Summer Food Fund, free meals in further education, the final ordering timescales for the national voucher scheme, ordering vouchers in multiples of £5, and an update on school food contracts to include further guidance from the Cabinet Office on Procurement Policy Note 04/20.

  17. Updated information about providing meals for pupils attending school, the national voucher scheme and providing meals or food parcels through your food provider.

  18. Updated information about claiming for additional costs, providing meals or food parcels through your food provider and ordering vouchers to cover multiple weeks.

  19. Added Aldi and McColl’s to the list of supermarkets taking part in the national voucher scheme.

  20. Added a link to the 16 to 19 free meals in further education guidance and information about Aldi joining the national voucher scheme.

  21. Updated information about school food contracts and free school meal eligibility. Added guidance and a sample application form on the temporary extension of free school meals eligibility to NRPF groups.

  22. Added guidance about free school meal support over the Easter holidays.

  23. Added guidance on school food contracts and the national voucher scheme, including how to order. Also added a question and answer section.

  24. Added information for parents about scams.

  25. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page

Related content