The rollout of universal free school meals is starting in Wales this week with the youngest children in primary schools the first to benefit. Which years will be offered them depends on where they live.
The policy for universal free school meals under the Labour government and Plaid Cymru agreement is aimed at addressing the cost of living crisis. It begins with reception children this month, before being rolled out to all children of primary school age by 2024.
First Minister Mark Drakeford and Siân Gwenllian, Plaid Cymru’s Designated Member, are due to visit a primary school on Wednesday (September 7) to announce the expansion of the scheme to more than 6,000 nursery-age children in schools.
Nursery-age pupils attending a maintained school for at least two full sessions, on any one day per week, will be eligible for a free school meal.
Around £35m of new capital funding will support the roll-out of the scheme. The funding will be provided to local authorities to invest in improvements to school catering facilities, including purchasing equipment, upgrading existing kitchen facilities and updating digital systems.
Some councils are extending the free school meal offer to children in years one and two from this term, after the October half term, or from January. Some school canteens were shut during the pandemic restrictions and were not fully open and serving hot meals last academic year - Cardiff Council said that if any of its canteens could not offer hot food in September, cold food would be offered instead. You can find what all 22 local authorities told our Education Editor Abbie Wightwick here.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “No child should go hungry. Families throughout Wales are under huge pressure because of the cost-of-living crisis and we are doing everything we can to support them. Extending free school meals to all primary schools is one of a number of measures we are taking to support families through this difficult time.
“I’m really pleased to see how our schools have embraced this and the speed at which they and our public services have worked together to begin providing free school meals.
“We know younger children are more likely to be living in relative income poverty, which is why the youngest of our learners will be the first to benefit.”
Leader of Plaid Cymru Adam Price said: “As we face a cost-of-living crisis, introducing universal free school meals for primary children, giving children a more equal start in life and helping families make the weekly budget go further has never been more important.
“Through our Co-operation Agreement we are delivering much needed support for families and making a real difference by investing in our schools to provide these meals.
“Over the next three years we will roll-out free school meals across all year groups in our primary schools, meaning no child will need to go hungry while they are in class. By working together we are making a real difference to people’s lives.”
Extending free school meals to all primary school children is a key commitment in the three-year Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.
Read next:
- The huge changes to how schools will teach in Wales next term
- Rising energy prices see food bank users asking for food that doesn't need cooking
- The three alternative school year dates suggested for Wales
- The help available for families in Wales to pay for school and college costs
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