“We are pleased that the Government has listened to our call to extend the food voucher scheme to cover the Easter holidays."
Responding to the Government’s announcement that food vouchers made available to schools and families of children entitled to free school meals are being extended to cover the Easter holidays, Cllr Judith Blake, Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, said:
“We are pleased that the Government has listened to our call to extend the food voucher scheme to cover the Easter holidays.
“No young person should have to go hungry and ensuring vulnerable pupils, including those on free school meals and with special educational needs and disabilities, are provided for is a top priority for councils and schools.
“There are over 1.3 million young people entitled to free school meals and the number of families in need is likely to be much greater as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic has forced thousands of families into financial insecurity, meaning parents who did not previously qualify for free school meals may be eligible for them.
“We will continue to work with the Department for Education to ensure that these families have the certainty they need.”