The Council has announced it will extend its free school meal scheme for the summer holidays.

Around 8,400 Wandsworth children will be able to enjoy a nutritious lunch during the break with their parents given supermarket food vouchers to replace free school meals.

Unlike some boroughs where food parcels are being distributed, parents in Wandsworth whose children are eligible for help can download vouchers from Wonde, an app

Stella Smith, headteacher of Falconbrook Primary School, said the impact of the voucher scheme had been “wonderful”.

“Our children no longer go hungry during the holidays, parents are understandably very relieved.

“Part of the Wonde system’s success lies in its simplicity and ease of use. Vouchers are delivered by text. This has helped our parents to navigate the system. Thankyou.”

These can then be exchanged for food at the supermarket of their choice.

Families who qualify for this support will be contacted directly by their schools - they do not need to apply for the help.

Wandsworth’s cabinet member for education and children’s services Cllr Will Sweet said:

“Since the beginning of the pandemic we have been hugely mindful of the need to continue to support children who receive free school meals. We were absolutely determined to make sure that these children did not go hungry because they weren’t at school.

“And we made the very early decision that we needed to continue this support over the school holidays. Our priority throughout has been to make sure Wandsworth children are safe, healthy and properly fed.

“Our voucher scheme delivers the funding directly to where it’s needed and allows parents to decide what their child would like for lunch. Parents know what’s best for their own children, which is why in Wandsworth we give them vouchers, not food parcels.”

The council will also again be running its popular Summer Unlocked scheme for children in receipt of free school meals, offering fun activities, tutoring and free lunches.