Wanted to share key points from a conversation with @Chartwells_UK this morning.
There is a meeting scheduled between Chartwells and @educationgovuk today.
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Information provided –

FSM Hampers are currently distributed to provide 10 lunch meals per child across 2 weeks.

This concerns me firstly as I relied on breakfast club, FSM and after-school clubs. Is 1 meal a day from Mon-Fri sufficient for children most vulnerable?

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Information provided –

The value uplift of the FSM Hampers has not yet come into play.

We have so many independent businesses who have struggled their way through 2020 – why can’t we mobilize them to support the distribution of food packages? Or am I being naïve?

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Information provided –

Chartwells supply FSM when schools are operational. Chartwells is not the exclusive supplier of FSM across the UK. Chartwells have asked to make it clear that the picture in circulation that features the pepper is not one of their hampers.

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Information provided –

Chartwell hampers feature a supporting recipe so that families can easily identify.

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Information provided –

Suppliers are typically offered directive from DfE and once food is supplied to the school network, schools have the autonomy over how the hampers are distributed. Schools, if this is not the case, please let me know.

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One thing that is clear is that there was very little communication with the suppliers that a national lockdown was coming. We MUST do better. Children shouldn’t be going hungry on the basis that we aren’t communicating or being transparent with plans. That is unacceptable. (7)

I have a game today so have to log off but I wanted to update you on the conversation and I look forward to hearing the outcome of the DfE meeting today.
@Chartwells_UK @educationgovuk

Something is going wrong and we need to fix it, quickly!
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