Hard-up families face a “postcode lottery” in free school meals support during holidays after one in five councils has scrapped voucher schemes started during the pandemic.
A Schools Week investigation found changes to government cost of living grants and rising numbers of pupils eligible for free school meals have forced town halls to rethink their support.
Of 50 councils that responded to our enquiries, nine have stopped providing weekly vouchers entirely. A further five have reduced the amount on offer over the summer.
