Primary school offers for 2020 will still go out this week despite uncertainty over coronavirus, the government has confirmed.
Millions of parents will find out which school their child will attend this Thursday on National Offer Day.
The government updated its guidance to schools in the past few days to clarify that, despite uncertainty around Covid-19, the day will go ahead as planned on Thursday 16 April.
It applies to children starting primary school or those moving up to junior school.
Experts and ministers have suggested schools could reopen in an early stage when the UK lockdown is eventually lifted.
(Image: Getty Images)
Currently they are open only for children of key workers – with those eligible for free school meals getting vouchers worth £15 a week.
But the government faces a row after many meal vouchers for children over the Easter holidays failed to turn up in time due to “technical problems”.
The vouchers – designed to ensure kids don’t go hungry – were originally intended for term time only.
Senior Cabinet minister Michael Gove unexpectedly announced a U-turn eight days ago, saying: “For children eligible for free school meals, vouchers will be available over the holidays.”
But the Mirror understands some Treasury civil servants were blindsided by Mr Gove’s claim, which was made in a single passing comment at a press conference.
(Image: Pippa Fowles/10 Downing Street)
It took until Tuesday for the government to announce the scheme formally, by which time there were only a few days left until the Easter break.
The Guardian and Sunday Times reported complaints that Edenred, the firm which supplies the vouchers to schools which then pass them to parents, did not have the capacity to meet demand.
“We had families calling up saying ‘Where are the vouchers?’,” one head teacher told the Sunday Times.
“We have children whose families are operating below the radar. They work in a cash economy. They are not entitled to benefits. They live in overcrowded accommodation.
“We are having to support them as well. The longer this goes on, the harder it is for them.”
The Department for Education insisted all schools have been issued with an activation email by Edenred and should check junk email folders and the contact details held for them by the government.
A new Edenred phone number is available on 0333 400 5932.
A Department for Education spokeswoman said: “We know that the free school meal voucher system is delivering for thousands of schools and voucher codes are already being processed and distributed to families.
“We are working tirelessly with Edenred to resolve any outstanding technical problems so that children eligible for free schools meals are supported quickly.
“We thank schools for their patience while we expand the system to meet the high demand.”
