A NEW voucher scheme allowing Lancashire schoolchildren eligible for free school meals to receive them whilst they stay at home has been welcomed.

Schools can now provide every eligible child with a weekly shopping voucher worth £15 to spend at supermarkets while classes 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 shops including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Marks and Spencer with the Department for Education working to get more shops to join the scheme as soon as possible.

READ: Free school meals replaced with weekly £15 meal voucher - how to claim it

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson said: “This is welcome news for many families across Lancashire and will help to ensure children get healthy nutritious meals out of school.”

Cllr Phillippa Williamson, Lancashire County Council’s children’s boss, said: “The authority will be supporting the national scheme, announced by the government, to enable families with children eligible for free school meals to claim weekly shopping vouchers.

“This is to support those families whose children aren’t in school and are currently looking after them at home as a result of the coronavirus measures introduced to keep people at home.

“In case there are any issues with the transition to the new vouchers, we have also delivered food parcels to all schools.

"It’s really important that we do continue to do everything we can do for families during these extraordinary times.”

Cllr Williamson added: “I urge any parent or carer with questions or concerns about the new system to contact their school directly.”