A total of £70 million will support the next stage of the universal free school meals rollout in Wales which is due to begin in September when pupils in the first five years of primary will be eligible for the “life-changing programme”.
The next tranche of funding was announced today by education minister Jeremy Miles.
The introduction of universal free school meals for primary school pupils is part of the cooperation agreement between the Welsh government and Plaid Cymru. All primary school children and more than 6,000 nursery-age pupils attending a maintained school will be eligible for free school meals by 2024.
The rollout of universal free school meals got under way in September last year, with children in Reception benefiting from the start of the autumn term.
The offer was then extended to Years 1 and 2 at the start of the summer term, which got under way last month. The Welsh government says the majority of children in these year groups now receive free school lunches, and that nearly five million additional free meals have been served across Wales.
The next phase of the expansion to provide free school meals to all pupils in primary school will begin in September, with the offer growing to include the majority of learners in Years 3 and 4. The programme will then be expanded further in April 2024, reaching Years 5 and 6. Where local authorities are able to reach these year groups ahead of these milestones, they have been funded to do so.
In England universal free school meals are available for those in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, but not for those in the later years of primary school - although primary pupils in London are to benefit from universal free school meals for one year after the mayor, Sadiq Khan, stepped in to help families with the spiralling cost of living.
In Scotland, the government had pledged to deliver universal free school meals for all primary pupils by August 2022 but while pupils in the first five years of primary benefit from free meals, the government has so far failed to realise its promise for those pupils in the final two years of primary. Last week, the new first minister, Humza Yousaf, cast further doubt on whether the promise would be delivered at all.
In Wales the total committed to implement the programme over three years is £260 million, including £60 million of capital funding for local authorities to support improvements to school kitchen facilities, such as buying equipment and updating digital systems.
The first year has focused on building the capacity for schools to deliver the increased offer.
Mr Miles said: “We are working at pace to ensure that every primary school child benefits from a nutritional school meal and that no child goes hungry.
“We know how difficult it is currently for families during the cost-of-living crisis. Universal free school meals provide significant financial help to families while providing a nutritional meal to help children concentrate on learning.
“I would like to thank local authority teams across Wales who are working hard to roll out universal free school meals quickly.”
Plaid Cymru’s Siân Gwenllian said: “We have delivered millions of free school meals since the start of the rollout of this life-changing programme and one that is needed now more than ever. I am delighted we can announce further details of the expansion of universal free school meals in all primary schools in Wales by 2024, showing how cooperative working is making a real difference to people’s lives.
“We are making sure no child goes hungry while also providing help for families during this cost-of-living crisis. I want to thank our local authorities and schools helping us achieve this.”
