To ask the Minister of Education what advice his Department is providing schools to assist with planning for the half-term break, including the provision of free school meals.

Significant support has been provided to schools to help them manage the COVID-19 pandemic including access to Education Authority Link Officers, an EA helpline and a Public Health Agency dedicated schools phone line. The Department has published comprehensive guidance for schools as well as a flowchart setting out the steps schools should take to manage a positive case; posters for schools and a leaflet for parents.

It is recognised that holiday periods can be a difficult time for families, however, the current legislation is very clear that school meals are only provided to pupils in attendance at school i.e. during term time. The Coronavirus Act 2020 allowed for modification of this legislation during a time of emergency. Normal Halloween and Christmas breaks are not considered an emergency under the Coronavirus Act. My Department has no legislative power to provide support for food outside the Coronavirus pandemic (and only if schools are closed to children due to the pandemic). Therefore, at present, there are no plans to provide additional funding during the half term break in respect of free school meals.