Morrisons to introduce service to feed self-isolating schoolkids

Morrisons has launched a new meal delivery service for schools that are feeding primary school children who are having to self-isolate.

The supermarket is working with schools to provide kids who would normally be eligible for free-school meals with breakfast, lunch and snacks, seven days a week – for as long as they are self-isolating.

Many school children are being asked to self-isolate due to suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases within their school bubbles.

In recent weeks, schools have told Morrisons they had been struggling with the costs of food and delivery. They had also expressed concern some pupils were missing out on vital support as a result of self-isolating.

Morrisons produced the ‘Morrisons Kids Meal Pack’ after reaching out to schools to establish their needs. It aims to provide healthy and balanced meals and has been developed in partnership with Morrisons company nutritionist.

The meal pack includes cereal, milk, bread, fruit, yoghurts, sandwich fillings, pasta and squash. It costs £12.50 for one child and provides breakfast, lunch and snacks for seven days a week. The cost is covered by the school as part of the Government’s free school meals programme.

Schools can order the meal pack directly from the Morrisons doorstep delivery team. Orders are then picked and packed by local Morrisons stores, and sent to children’s homes via its ‘doorstep delivery’ service. This saves the school time and costly transportation fees.

Nicole Olive from the Morrisons local team said: “Each of our stores is close to its local community to listen hard and understand its needs – and schools were saying they had difficulty getting free school meals to isolating children. We can put affordable and nutritious food on the table during this difficult time.”

Paula Duckworth, headteacher at Lammack Primary School where the scheme was trialed said: “We were struggling to provide children eligible for free school meals with healthy and cost-effective food while they were self-isolating. So I was thankful to be contacted by Morrisons to see if this was something they could help with. The Morrisons Kids Meal Pack service has been such a lifeline for our kids.”

The Morrisons kids meal pack is available nationwide now. To place orders, schools can email Morrisons doorstep delivery team on schoolbox@morrisonsplc.co.uk