The BBC reports that the UK government has defended its scheme to offer free food to struggling families in England over half term – after criticism from teachers’ unions and council leaders.
Food will be provided for children by councils under the Covid Winter Grant Scheme, rather than through schools.
But councils say the government should provide food vouchers over half term.
The row follows the publication of guidelines on free meals, after an outcry over pictures of food packages to replace free school meals during the lockdown.
The prime minister and other ministers criticised the quality of what was being sent out by some school food firms.
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, warned that switching schemes meant “yet more disruption to free schools meals could lie ahead in half term”.
