Campaigners are calling on the government to continue with free school meals throughout February half term.
When Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced yesterday that schools will remain closed until at least Marsh 8, he said the government will continue free school meals, with vouchers and food parcels until they return.
But what it doesn't include is the upcoming half term break and there are fears thousands of Greater Manchester children will go hungry without the benefit.
The government has refused to extend it over the February break, saying families and children can instead rely on Covid Winter Support Grant funding.
That's despite government guidance, which states: "The Covid Winter Grant Scheme is not intended to replicate or replace free school meals and authorities should avoid duplicating provision where possible," reports the Mirror.
Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner, who relied on free school meals as a child, said: "Almost a year into this pandemic children should not be in this situation yet again, worried about going hungry during the school holidays.
"The Prime Minister condemned the disgraceful food parcels that hungry children have been given, yet now he is planning to leave them without free school meals.
"The government voted against free school meals in October, had to be shamed into extending support over the Christmas holidays and now they are letting down our children again.
Do you think the food parcels and vouchers should be continued over February half term? Let us know in the comments here
"Instead of dragging their feet and leaving millions of families in the lurch again the government must make sure that no child goes hungry this half term."
Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford has twice forced No10 into humiliating U-turns during the Covid-19 crisis over providing free school meals for poorer kids outside of term time.
The government has been approached for comment.
