More free school meals have been rolled out across Bridgend county borough this month as part of the Welsh Government's free school meals programme which began in 2022.
The scheme is a part of the Welsh Government’s commitment for every primary school pupil in Wales to receive a free school meal by 2024, though the local authority say parents will not have to apply.
It means that coinciding with the start of the new academic school year in September 2023, approximately 1,600 primary school pupils starting year 3 in Bridgend will be offered a free school meal.
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The offer follows the previous roll-out of free school meals to all reception pupils in September 2022, and to year 1 and year 2 pupils in April this year, with over 4,600 Bridgend pupils now receiving the entitlement. It is now hoped that the offer will be extended to nursery school pupils by January of 2024, to year 4 pupils by April 2024, and to year 5 and year 6 pupils by September 2024.
Councillor Jon-Paul Blundell, cabinet member for education, said "I am delighted that we are now able to offer the free school meals initiative to Year 3 pupils in the county borough, alongside the Reception and Year 1 and Year 2 pupils who have already benefited from the scheme.
"The significant capital funding we have secured in funding from the Welsh Government has helped us to improve and refurbish school kitchens to further provide support to pupils and we hope to extend this support in 2024 and eventually offer a free school meal to every primary school pupil in the county borough. Once again, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all staff and schools in Bridgend County Borough Council for their continued support, and for their hard work in delivering this vital service." To get more Bridgend stories straight to your inbox, subscribe to our dedicated newsletter here.
