'Very disappointing' - Sheffield school yet to hear from Council despite free meals promise

Sheffield City Council has been warned “half term will be over” before eligible school children receive their food vouchers.
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It comes after one city school complained they have not received any direct communication from the local authority on how the scheme will work as the halfway point of the week-long break approaches.

A post on the Fir Vale School Facebook page said: “Sheffield City Council announced last Friday afternoon that they would be providing free school meals for students this half term holiday, either centrally or through schools.

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"We continue to look out for their e-mail during this holiday week with details of how this scheme will work. As soon as we know the details we will pass these on to eligible parents.”

Fir Vale School said it has yet to receive direct communication from Sheffield City Council regarding free school meals vouchers.Fir Vale School said it has yet to receive direct communication from Sheffield City Council regarding free school meals vouchers.
Fir Vale School said it has yet to receive direct communication from Sheffield City Council regarding free school meals vouchers.

No fewer than 22,000 children in Sheffield who receive free school meals have been promised a £15 voucher.

Sheffield Lib Dem leader councillor Shaffaq Mohammed tweeted: “Very disappointing to learn that some of our young people may be missing out on free school meals in Sheffield.

"Sheffield Council must sort this ASAP, they need to implement this first and sort the ‘red tape’ later otherwise half-term holiday will be over by the time they sort this.”

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The Council said they would “work with schools and communities to administer the programme” when it was announced. Council leader Julie Dore said she felt “strongly enough to make sure children and young people in Sheffield don’t go hungry over the holidays.”

Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed.Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed.
Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed.

In an update published on Wednesday afternoon, Sheffield City Council said a letter providing parents with details of how to access free school meal vouchers will be sent out in the post this week.

It said: “Over 22,000 children and young people in Sheffield receive free school meals, so our team are working hard to get meal vouchers to parents as soon as possible.

"Schools are closed for half term and are not able to deal with school voucher requests.”

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Until then, parents in need of support are asked to visit schoolmealfinder.org to find local businesses offering free meals or the Council website for information about financial help and food banks.

A Council spokesperson told The Star: “It’s a huge operation which we are trying to move as soon as we can.”

The vouchers could be valid for six months or longer, they added.