Universal free school meals for primary school aged children in Wales started with the youngest pupils last September. But the offer, and how fast it's being extended to all year groups, depends on where pupils live and go to school.
Vale of Glamorgan Council is already offering universal free school meals to all its primary school children in all years. Some other councils are offering free meals to more primary year groups than others, ahead of Welsh Government target dates.
The Welsh Government said the “vast majority” of children in primary school years three and four will receive free school meals from September 2023. Councils able to give more pupils free meals ahead of the timetable have been funded to do so, however, the Welsh Government said it could not confirm which councils would be making the offer, and which would not.
The introduction of universal free school meals for primary school pupils is part of the Co-operation 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.
WalesOnline asked all 22 local councils what the dates are for offering all children in all school years free school meals. These are the responses from those which replied:
Blaenau Gwent
All primary school aged pupils will be offered free school meals from September 2023.
Bridgend
A Bridgend County Borough Council spokesperson, said: “It is planned to offer universal primary free school meals to year three and four pupils in Bridgend from April 2024. This can’t be offered any earlier due to significant capital investment being required across many of our local schools. It is planned that the offer is then extended to year five and six pupils from September 2024 which meets the timetable agreed with Welsh Government.”
Cardiff
A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: “All reception aged pupils in Cardiff have been successfully receiving universal free school meals since September 2022. Year one pupils have been receiving them from April 2023 and the offer is now being extended to include year two pupils from June.
“Facilitating this level of change across all primary schools is a challenge as each school is different. In addition to issues around space and capacity at many sites, we are also experiencing the impact from ongoing supply chain issues and current workforce pressures.
“Despite these challenges, the council is committed to the continuing roll out of the programme for the years three, four, five and six, against the target dates. Teams will continue to work hard to put provision in place so that the free school meals can be rolled as soon as schools are able to do so, and families will be updated accordingly.
“In addition to universal free school meals, families with children of all ages who receive benefits, should continue to register for a free school meal so that they can access additional support through the School Essentials Grant. This can help with school uniform, school activities and classroom essentials.”
Ceredigion
From April 17 all pupils in years three and four started receiving free school meals. The council said: “It is our intention to extend the provision to pupils in Years 5 and 6 from September.”
Councillor Wyn Thomas, Ceredigion’s cabinet member responsible for schools, lifelong learning and skills, said: “The council and the Welsh Government are committed to implementing this scheme quickly and would ask for your patience as we build catering capacity to ensure a successful phased implementation and work towards a whole school roll-out over the next three years.”
Conwy
“Conwy County Borough Council is intending to offer a free school meal to all primary school learners from September 2023, ahead of the target date of September 2024.”
Denbighshire
Pupils in reception and years one and two have received free school meals since September 2022. That was extended to year two children in April 2023 and years three and four will be offered universal free school meals from September 2023.
A council spokesperson said although “not confirmed” Denbighshire is aiming to roll out free school meals for all children in years five and six in January 2024, ahead of the target date.
Flintshire
A spokesperson said: “Flintshire County Council can confirm that it is on target to meet its commitment to roll-out the provision of universal primary free school meals to pupils in years three and four from September 2023. The final phase of the roll out, to pupils in years five and six will then follow from April 2024.”
Gwynedd
The council said: “It is intended that Years 3 and 4 will receive free school meals from June 5, 2023 onwards (after May half term). The offer will be extended to Years 5 and 6 by September 1, 2023.”
Merthyr
Children in reception and years one and two receive universal free school meals. The council said it is “aiming” to extend this to all pupils in years three and four from this September and then to all pupils in years five and six by the end of the academic year 2023-24.
Monmouthshire
All years from reception to year six to get free school meals from September 2023 - ahead of the target date of September 2024. A spokesperson said: “We are planning to rollout universal free school meals to all primary children from September.”
Pembrokeshire
A spokesperson said: “In Pembrokeshire, all primary school pupils (full time nursery through to year six) will receive free school meals from September 2023. Year two and below currently receive universal free school meal provision.”
Powys
Children in year three will get free school meals from September 2023. Children in year four will get free school meals from January 2024 and children in years five and six will get free school meals from September 2024.
Rhondda Cynon Taf
All nursery, reception, years one and two pupils are already receiving free school meals. From September 2023, the offer will be extended to year three and four pupils.
From April 2024, the offer will be extended to year five and six children, slightly ahead of Welsh Government target date of September 2024.
Swansea
All reception and year one pupils receive free school meals. Children in year two will begin to receive free school meals after this May half term.
A council spokesperson said there are no dates yet for when the offer will be extended to children in years three, four, five and six (if ahead of Welsh Government target dates).
Vale of Glamorgan
From Easter 2023 all children in primary schools in the Vale began receiving free school meals. The council said it believes it was the first local authority in Wales to provide universal free school meals in primaries.
Wrexham
All primary pupils are to receive free school meals by September. Wrexham pupils in reception have been receiving universal free school meals since September 2022.
That was extended to pupils in years one and two in April 2023 and from September 2023 all children from years three to six will also receive free school meals.
Anglesey has previously said it aimed to provide all year two pupils free school meals by April 2023, and years three to six by September 2023. Caerphilly Council has previously said it will extend the offer to children in years three to year six by September 2023.
In its document explaining the universal free school meal policy, the Welsh Government said: “All primary school children in Wales will get free school meals by 2024. This commitment is in response to the rising cost-of-living pressures on families and our shared ambitions of tackling child poverty and ensuring no child goes hungry in school.”
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