Schools are facing "technical problems" getting hold of vital £15 meal vouchers for the nation's poorest children over the Easter holidays, the government admits.
Campaigners have claimed poor children risk going hungry after head teachers reported delays getting hold of vital vouchers to replace free school meals.
The Department for Education has admitted there were "technical problems" but said it was working through them as quickly as possible.
It comes after the government rolled out a scheme for 1.3million children who would normally qualify for free school meals due to low family income.
Vouchers are distributed to schools which then send them on to parents.
Are you still waiting for meal vouchers? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk.
Either the voucher will sent directly to a family over email and they can then show the code on their phone at the supermarket.
The vouchers - designed to ensure kids don't go hungry - were originally intended for term time only.
Senior Cabinet minister Michael Gove unexpectedly announced a U-turn eight days ago, saying: "For children eligible for free school meals, vouchers will be available over the holidays."
But the Mirror understands some Treasury civil servants were blindsided by Mr Gove's claim, which was made in a single passing comment at a press conference.
It took until Tuesday for the government to announce the scheme formally, by which time there were only a few days left until the Easter break.
The Guardian and Sunday Times reported complaints that Edenred, the firm which supplies the vouchers to schools which then pass them to parents, did not have the capacity to meet demand.
"We had families calling up saying 'Where are the vouchers?'," one head teacher told the Sunday Times.
"We have children whose families are operating below the radar. They work in a cash economy. They are not entitled to benefits. They live in overcrowded accommodation.
"We are having to support them as well. The longer this goes on, the harder it is for them."
The Department for Education insisted all schools have been issued with an activation email by Edenred and should check junk email folders and the contact details held for them by the government.
A new Edenred phone number is available on 0333 400 5932.
A Department for Education spokeswoman said: “We know that the free school meal voucher system is delivering for thousands of schools and voucher codes are already being processed and distributed to families.
"We are working tirelessly with Edenred to resolve any outstanding technical problems so that children eligible for free schools meals are supported quickly.
"We thank schools for their patience while we expand the system to meet the high demand."
