Question: What guidelines are schools being given in regards to free meal as they are starting to reopen?

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Providing free school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
section_headers: National voucher scheme
section_content: As schools open more widely, and their kitchens reopen, we expect schools to
make food parcels available for collection or delivery for any children that
are eligible for free school meals who are staying at home.
Arranging food parcels helps ensure that eligible children have access to a
healthy free meal, and can also help the school to stay in contact with those
families. We know that many schools have made excellent food parcel
arrangements throughout this period.
If your school catering service cannot provide meals or food parcels for
children who are at home, you can continue to offer vouchers to families of
eligible pupils.
Before ordering vouchers, check which pupils are eligible and would be
receiving benefits-related free school meals.
We are monitoring voucher orders at school level to broadly check if they are
ordering in line with our estimates of the number of eligible children,
recognising that for some schools this will be lower if they are providing
food parcels, or using a local arrangement. If a school’s orders are higher
than expected, we may speak to the school about why this has occurred and will
take forward any necessary action to rectify the position. A cross check will
also be done for those making a claim for free school meals funding via the
financial support available for
schools.
For any voucher queries, please email:

freeschoolmeals@edenred.com for schools
freeschoolmealsparentscarers@edenred.com for parents and carers


Reviewer feedback on this answer:
It's a more thorough answer. It gives more details on what's going on.
There is a lot of information here.  The information here is in regards to the free meal program.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): temporary extension of free school meals eligibility to NRPF groups
section_headers: Time period
section_content: The extension of free school meal eligibility to these groups will take place
immediately. It will end when schools have reopened to all children.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
It answers the question with only 2 sentences.
There is very little information here.  The information here does relate to the free meal program, but it's not very helpful information.

Reviewer ratings:
Acceptable
Could be Improved

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Providing free school meals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
section_headers: Providing meals or food parcels through your food provider
section_content: We know that many schools and food providers are already finding very
effective ways to ensure that eligible children already receive free healthy
meals during this period.
As schools prepare to open more widely, they should speak to their school
catering team or provider about the best arrangements for school meals.
Schools should ensure that they are supported to return to school to provide
food both for those children attending school and for those remaining at home
who are eligible for free school meals.
We have published a planning guide for
schools to help schools prepare for children returning
to school. This includes suggested approaches to help school leaders in their
decision making around school meals, including working out arrangements for
lunch so that children do not mix with children from other groups.
This could mean having several lunch sittings or serving lunch in more than
one location, including if appropriate in a classroom, or asking your caterers
to look at other flexible ways of giving pupils access to lunch such that it
can be eaten in the small group setting (for example taking cold or ‘packed’
lunches to children in the areas they are in for the day).
In addition, please speak to your catering teams and food suppliers about the
most effective ways to manage the ordering and delivery of food during this
period. This may include:

arranging fewer food deliveries each week compared with standard periods when the school is open to all pupils
ordering longer shelf life products during this period, such as frozen foods or foods that can be safely stored at room temperature

In addition to providing meals in schools, you should consider with suppliers
whether they can prepare meals or food parcels that could be collected by or
delivered to families that are not in attendance. If you do provide meals or
food parcels, ensure they are distributed in line with guidance on social
distancing at all times.
The Food Standards Agency has issued general guidance for food
businesses.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
It's a thorough answer. It brings up a lot of important information.
There is a lot of information here.  The info here is related to the free meal program.

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent