
The Department of Education, Sport and Culture says it's making provisions for children entitled to get free school meals who haven't returned to classrooms yet.
Earlier this week, around 800 students went back to primary and secondary schools in the first phase of a total return.
Parents and carers of children who would normally get free school meals will get a special voucher to spend on essential groceries.
Those with primary age children will get £11.75, while secondary students' parents will get £14.45 vouchers that can be spent at Shoprite.