Hundreds of families affected by delayed and missed free school meal Christmas holiday vouchers after council issues
Hundreds of families have been affected by delayed and missed free school meal vouchers over the Christmas holidays.
At the end of the school term last week, parents and carers of pupils who receive free school meals had been expecting vouchers to be distributed by North Northamptonshire Council for the Christmas holidays.
But due to ‘issues’ approximately 310 vouchers for some children who attend Sir Christopher Hatton Academy and Great Doddington Primary School were missing or delayed.
North Northants Council issued advice yesterday (Tuesday) about free school meal vouchers to families at Sir Christopher Hatton Academy saying council staff were working through emails – but some might not be resolved until next Monday (December 29).
The statement said: “We understand there has been an issue with the distribution of vouchers to some pupils.
“If your child is eligible for free school meals, please contact us via email to [email protected]
“Please include child's name, date of birth and add 'Sir Christopher Hatton Academy' in the subject line.
"We are working through the emails and checking them against the list of eligible students to send vouchers out over the next two days and again from December 29.”
It is believed that lists for students eligible for the free school meals have now been located, with requests processed once a parent/carer emails an enquiry directly.
The Free School Meal Holiday vouchers should have been distributed to schools as one voucher throughout the month of December to include payments covering Christmas, February half-term and Easter. The overall amount each student receives via the school will be £90 to cover all three coming holidays.
Cllr Kelly Dudderidge has been liaising with fellow councillors and council officers to clear the backlog.
She said: “I’ve been told that around 310 vouchers were missing or delayed. The council’s lead for communities, Cllr Greg Wilcox, is trying to bring in additional staff to help clear the backlog. Some vouchers may be processed between Christmas and New Year.
“I will be following this up in the New Year to understand how this happened. For now, my priority is making sure families receive the support they need over the Christmas break.”
Cllr Greg Wilcox, North Northamptonshire Council’s executive member for communities, said: “About 99 per cent of Free Schol Meal vouchers for the Christmas holidays have been distributed by schools to eligible students.
“However there has been an issue with the distribution of Free School Meal vouchers to some pupils attending Sir Christopher Hatton and Great Doddington schools.
“Parents of pupils attending these schools who are eligible for a voucher and have not received one are asked to contact North Northamptonshire Council at [email protected]
“We are working through the emails and checking them against the list of eligible students to send vouchers out today and again from December 29.”