I would like the Government to urgently re-instate the provision of free “School Fruit and Vegetables Scheme” (SFVS) to Key Stage 1 children in the UK. This NHS driven scheme has been indefinitely withdrawn by the Government without notice, affecting more than 2 million children in around 16,000 English schools.

Until now, if your child is aged between 4 to 6 and attends a fully state-funded infant, primary or special school in England, they're entitled to receive a free piece of fruit, or vegetable each school day.

This not only provides 1 of their “5 A Day” portions, it also increases awareness of the importance of having a balanced diet, and encourages healthy eating habits that can be carried into later life.  The withdrawal of this scheme will impact vulnerable and disadvantaged children most severely.  For these children, SFVS can be the only healthy food choice available to them each day, and their only reliable source of essential vitamins and nutrients.

In distributing the fruits, teachers incorporate teaching and learning about sharing; this promotes a calm and social environment in which students can thrive and develop.

There are many children in poverty across the UK, and many more who are in a constant state of food insecurity.  Please do not fail these children now when many more families are at risk of falling further into poverty due to the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.  Urgently reinstate the SFVS as one of the most enduring strategies in public health preventative measures.