CENTRAL Devon MP Mel Stride has welcomed the launch of a national voucher scheme for families of children usually eligible for free school meals.

Schools can continue to provide meals for collection or delivery themselves, but where this is not possible, the scheme will allow schools to provide vouchers worth £15 a week to families electronically, or as a gift card for those without internet access.

The vouchers can be spent on food at a range of shops including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Waitrose and M&S, with more shops set to join the scheme as soon as possible.

Mr Stride said: “I’m very pleased that the launch of this scheme, welcomed by the National Association of Headteachers, will help schools continue to provide free meals for eligible children and if they can’t then the family will benefit from a voucher.

“It will help children continue to have access to healthy meals while schools are closed.”

Parents will receive the voucher through their child’s school, which can then be redeemed online via a code, or have it sent to their house as a gift card.

The value of vouchers available per eligible child per week exceeds the rate paid to schools for free school meals, recognising that families will not be buying food in bulk and may therefore incur higher costs.

If you think your child may be eligible for free school meals but are not currently receiving them, visit: www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals for more information.