Free school meal vouchers to launch this week and you can spend them in supermarkets – here’s how to get them
FAMILIES with children who receive free school meals will soon get supermarket vouchers instead while schools are shut during the coronavirus crisis.
The weekly vouchers are worth £15, which is above the £11.50 currently paid to schools per pupil for the cost of providing free meals.
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This is in recognition that families - unlike school caterers - don't order in bulk and therefore face higher costs.
The scheme, which officially rolls out today, allows schools to provide vouchers to families electronically, or post a gift card to those without internet access.
The vouchers can be spent on food at supermarkets including Asda, Morrisons, M&S, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose, but the Department for Education is aiming to get all of the supermarket chains signed up.
Schools can also continue to provide meals for collection or delivery themselves, but this isn't always possible, the government said.
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Around 1.3million children around the UK currently get free school meals, usually because their parents get certain benefits, such as Universal Credit or working tax credit.
Children in reception, year 1 and year 2 automatically get free school meals if they attend a government funded school.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said that while some schools were making their own plans to ensure pupils continued to be fed, he hoped most would join the scheme.
He said that no child should have to go hungry as a result of measures brought in to control the spread of the virus.
The government originally announced the voucher scheme following the decision earlier this month to close all schools.
How to get the free supermarket vouchers for school meals
Everyone who usually qualifies for free school meals will be able to get the vouchers, as long as the school signs up.
You can check if you’re eligible for free school meals by using the
Parents will receive the vouchers through their child’s school, which have today been emailed by the Department for Education's supplier Edenred.
Once your child's school has signed up, it can choose to either have a voucher sent directly to you over email and you'll then be able to show it at the supermarket.
Alternatively, the school can arrange a bulk order of multiple codes and then send them on to families.
For families without internet access, the school can claim the vouchers on your behalf and send out paper copies in the post.
Schools remain open for children of “key workers” and vulnerable kids, so if this applies to your family, your children will receive the free school meals as usual.
If you have questions you should contact your child's school.
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The DfE previously announced that it will be up to the schools to work out how it will distribute the food vouchers to the most vulnerable families.
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