1. Please could you complete the first tab of the attached spreadsheet with information relating to the number of children eligible for benefits-related free school meals in your local authority area at the census dates indicated.
See attached file.

2. In regards to the government’s COVID Winter Grant Scheme (and the subsequent COVID Local Support Grant):
a) How much funding was received by your local authority through these schemes
• Initial Covid Winter Grant Allocation to Wokingham to cover period 1st Dec 20 – 31st March 21: £208,703
• First Extension to cover 1st – 16th April 21: £72,555
• Second Extension (Covid Local Support Grant) to cover 17th April – 20th June 21: £49,107
• Final Extension (Covid Local Support Grant) to cover 21st June – 30th September 21: £196,426.35

b) How (if at all) you used this funding to provide food support to children eligible for benefits-related free school meals over each of the following time periods:
i. Christmas school holidays (21/12/20 - 1/01/21)
The families of all children in receipt of benefits-related FSM were provided with £15 per child per week (2 weeks) of food and grocery vouchers funded through the Covid Winter Grant allocation.

ii. February school half-term (15/02/21 - 19/02/21)
The families of all children in receipt of benefits-related FSM were provided with £15 per child per week (1 week) of food and grocery vouchers funded through the Covid Winter Grant allocation.

iii. Easter school holidays (29/03/21 - 9/04/21)
FSM Vouchers Issued funded by Council. Not covid winter grant.

iv. Summer school half-term (31/05-21 - 4/06/21)
The families of all children in receipt of benefits-related FSM were provided with £20 per child per week (1 week) of food and grocery vouchers funded through the Covid Local Support Grant allocation.

v. Duration of the scheme
-

b) Please complete the second tab of the attached spreadsheet answering the following questions (for each of the time periods listed):
i. How many children on benefit-related free school meals were given any support through the COVID Winter Grant Scheme/COVID Local Support Grant?
ii. How much of the COVID Winter Grant Scheme/COVID Local Support Grant funding was spent to provide food support to families with children?
iii. How many meals (or cash/voucher equivalent) were provided through the COVID Winter Grant Scheme/COVID Local Support Grant funding in total?
iv. How many children eligible for benefits-related free school meals were provided meals through the COVID Winter Grant Scheme/COVID Local Support Grant?
See attached file.

3. In regards to the Government’s Holiday Activity and Food Programme:
a) Please provide a statement summarising (a) how much funding was received by your local authority through this scheme for the 2020/2021 academic year, and (b) how (if at all) you used the Holiday Activity and Food Programme funding to provide food support to children eligible for benefits-related free school meals over each of the following time periods:
i. Christmas school holidays (21/12/20 - 1/01/21)
Not applicable – Holiday Activities and Food Programme started Easter 2021. Wokingham Borough Council has been allocated £307,700 through the Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) to cover Easter (1 week), Summer (4 weeks) and Christmas (1 week) holidays in 2021 (6 weeks in total).

ii. Easter school holidays (29/03/21 - 9/04/21)
No face-to-face activities were arranged due to Covid restrictions. An online activity pack was provided by the local authority (HAF funds were not used at all at Easter and carried over to the Summer). The Local Authority provided FSM vouchers to families of all children and young people in receipt of benefits-related FSM in the amount of £15 per child per week (£30 in total) fully funded by the local authority.

iii. Summer school holidays (22/07/21 - 31/08/21)
During the Summer holidays 2021 WBC offered a 5-week programme of activities and food for children aged 4-16 in receipt of benefits-related free school meals, including bespoke activities for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and a series of community activity days. All activities have included a free healthy meal for each child or young person attending (in receipt of benefits-related FSM). At the same time, recognising that not all children would take up the offer to attend HAF activities, the Covid Local Support Grant extension funded food/grocery vouchers for all families with children in receipt of benefits-related free school meals throughout the summer holidays (£90 per child).

iv. Academic year 2020-21
See above.

b) Please complete the third tab of the attached spreadsheet answering the following questions (for each of the time periods listed):
i. How much of the funding received through the Holiday Activity and Food Programme was spent to provide food to children?
ii. How many meals (or cash/voucher equivalent) were provided through the Holiday Activity and Food Programme funding?
iii. How many children eligible for benefits-related free school meals were provided with meals through the Holiday Activity and Food Programme?
iv. How many children eligible for benefits-related free school meals but unable to partake in the offered activities were provided with meals through the Holiday Activity Food Programme?
v. How many days of food and activity were provided for children eligible for benefit-related free school meals?
See attached file.