A new Covid Winter Grant Scheme to support disadvantaged kids over the Christmas holidays will be funded by the government at a cost of £170m.
The U-turn comes after the Government last month told Conservative MPs to vote against a Labour motion calling for the extension of free school meal provision.
The initiative will support disadvantaged kids over the Christmas holidays and will also be extended to cover the Easter, summer and Christmas breaks in 2021.
The grants will be administered by councils in England rather than schools with local authorities will receive the funding at the beginning of December.
