Children across the High Peak who are eligible for free school meals will benefit from a national voucher scheme allowing them to continue enjoying healthy meals whilst they stay at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

Schools can now provide every eligible child with a weekly shopping voucher worth £15 to spend at supermarkets while schools are closed due to coronavirus.

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 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. 

The Department for Education is also working to get more shops to join the scheme.

Robert Largan MP, who recently praised local teachers delivering packed lunched to the homes of pupils on free school meals, commented: 

“No child should in the High Peak should go hungry as a result of the measures introduced to keep people at home, protect the NHS and save lives.

“Many High Peak schools had already developed their own schemes and local solutions, so it is good to see that they will be able to continue these if they’re working well, or adopt the new scheme if they feel that would be better.

“This is welcome and very reassuring news for many parents across the High Peak, and will help to ensure their children get healthy nutritious meals whilst out of school.”