College Closure Update 11.04.20: Free School Meals

Covid-19 (Coronavirus)

Update 11^th April 2020

We decided to join the Government voucher scheme for Free School Meals because with our semi-rural catchment other methods of providing FSM are complex and cannot possibly reach everyone.
The amount will be £15 per child per week. We intended to overlap the Government scheme with our previous one for w/b 6^th April to make up for a £3 per week difference between schemes, but wait to see if the Government will backdate the date of issue of e-codes.
We were accepted on to the scheme on Tuesday 7^th April, but technical issues and overload means that Edenred (the Government contractor) has not yet issued e-codes to parents.
We had been assured that e-codes were to have been issued on 9^th or 10^th April, but the delay has persisted and I know several schools in London, Manchester and elsewhere are experiencing the same problems. Presumably because it is the Easter bank holiday weekend, Edenred is not taking calls or answering e-mails.
The vouchers we issued through Voucher Exchange take families up to Sunday 12^th If the Government scheme has not issued e-codes by Tuesday, 14^th April, we will order more vouchers through Voucher Exchange (for £15) to cover w/b 13^th April.

LINKS AND FURTHER INFORMATION

This is the Government’s guidance to parents:

The following link is the government’s advice to schools, last updated 26^th March

The next link is Devon County Council’s dedicated website for parents for Coronavirus advice

Department for Education Coronavirus helpline:

Phone: 0800 046 8687 Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)

Email:

Should you have any specific queries regarding Covid-19 and Clyst Vale, please e-mail Mrs Ann Hopkins (College Manager) on .

Kevin Bawn, Principal