The free school meal voucher system is a load of rubbish

[Sidge]

I appreciate the principle, honestly I do.

But I’ve finally received all my voucher codes, waited in the online waiting room for days, submitted them, chosen my supermarket and received the evoucher gift cards.

Only to discover you can’t use them online, only in store.

We’re shielding. WTAF.

I can use mine online (east sussex)
This is not much help to you I know...……...but are you sure? I have to put in the codes, apply for gift vouchers and then apply these to my online order.
If you cannot use them on line, then I agree its ridiculous.

Some you can use online (Asda and Waitrose by the look of it) - see q15 on the faq here.

www.edenred.co.uk/Documents/DfE/DfE_FreeSchoolMeals_ParentCarerFAQs.pdf

There answer for shielding families are up give them to someone else to use on your behalf!

I wish I’d known that before ordering, it should have been explicit on the main page. I don’t like Asda delivery and can’t afford Waitrose lol.

Luckily I’m not in dire financial straits so can hang on to them until I can go to the supermarket, but I’m sure there are lots of families who really need them and really could do with being able to use them online.

It’s all just a bit haphazard I think.

Our local schools are still doing food hampers rather than the voucher scheme as they thought it would be too problematic for many families.