West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed the return of a voucher scheme to help vulnerable families during the latest period of school closures.

The Government has reinstated the scheme which allowed parents to source extra food at local supermarkets to help while children are being home-schooled.

Parents who qualify for free school lunches will now be able to choose a supermarket gift code for £15 a week per child to help them ensure their children have a free lunch on a school day.

Local parents have raised their concerns about some of the food packages offered by local schools and the voucher scheme will allow parents more choice.

The Government has also introduced a £170 Covid Winter Fund to help families over the Christmas break and this school term including half-term.

Harriett commented: “Of course, we all want children to be able to return to school as quickly as possible as this interruption is bad for their educational and mental development.

“Home schooling presents a range of extra challenges and my efforts continue to be aimed and encouraging the lockdown to be released as soon as possible with a vaccination programme now in full swing.

“Based on my postbag, the voucher scheme helps the most vulnerable families more effectively as in my experience children can be quite fussy eaters and may not want exactly what the schools are providing.”