Youngest children to receive free school meals from September

FROM September, some of the youngest children in primary schools in Wales will begin receiving free school meals.

A total of £25million is being invested in school kitchen and dining infrastructure as part of plans to roll out free school meals to all primary school children, the Welsh Government has announced.

The policy is part of the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru, which will see free school meals extended to all primary school pupils over the next three years.

It was announced at a joint press conference held by Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford and Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price yesterday.

No detail was provided about another key policy: to offer free childcare to twoand three year-olds. Mr Price said that detail would come “in due course”.

Some of the youngest children in primary schools will begin receiving free school meals from September as the policy is introduced in a “phased way”.

Working with schools and local authorities, the Welsh Government will plan and prepare the infrastructure needed for all primary aged pupils to receive free school meals by September 2024.

Revenue funding of up to £200m has been set aside for local authorities to deliver the commitment, with £40m to be provided in 2022-23, £70m in 2023-24 and £90m in 2024-25.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “Together we have made a joint commitment that no child in Wales should go hungry and that every child in our primary schools will be able to have a free school meal.

“We are facing an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis. 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.

“This cost-of-living crisis is being felt by families all over Wales – extending free school meals is one of a number of measures we are taking to support families through this difficult time.”

Leader of Plaid Cymru Adam Price said: “From talking to other parents, it’s very clear that families need as much support with living costs as possible, especially given the additional financial challenges people are currently facing. Today’s announcement begins the rollout of a policy that will make a real difference to many across the country. It is an important step towards fulfilling one of our key pledges in the Co-operation Agreement and an example of how constructive joint working is making a real difference on the ground.

“This new capital funding supports the start of the introduction of free school meals for all primary school children. It is also part of a wider agenda to use those powers we do have in Wales to tackle child poverty, which affects a third of our children. Removing the stigma associated with having a free lunch will mean that children receive a healthy meal at a formative stage in their development – hungry children cannot learn or achieve their true potential. Together, we’re delivering for Wales and making a difference.”

Mr Drakeford told the press conference that, over the past 10 years, Welsh Government has worked hard to ensure food for children, even in school holidays. He said the announcement was another way of helping families “faced with that terrible choice between heating and eating”.

He added it was almost 20 years ago that free breakfasts were given in schools, something Wales was first to do in the UK. He said Wales was the first place to continue providing free school meals during the pandemic, and through school holidays. He said Wales was the only part of the UK to have a “national approach” towards ending holiday hunger.

After the announcement, Welsh Conservative and shadow education minister Laura Anne Jones MS said: “At a time when there is a cost-of-living crisis, it is totally wrong for Labour and their nationalist partners to collude to give free school meals to the children of millionaires when it has never been more essential to target support at those who need it most.

“Labour and Plaid’s desire to chase headlines has also blinded them to the implications this would have for those from deprived backgrounds as it distorts how the Pupil Development Grant is allocated. If this goes ahead, we need a new formula to determine who needs that extra money.

“It is abundantly clear that Labour and Plaid are totally out of touch, have no interest in addressing the underlying reasons that lead to people needing free school meals, and do not have the interest of the poorest in society at heart.”

Laura Doel, director of school leaders’ union NAHT Cymru, said: “School leaders support the mission of the Welsh Government to ensure no child goes hungry. Children who are hungry cannot learn as well as they might be able to. Free school meals at least guarantee that children get one nutritious meal a day.

“On a practical level, however, there are some challenges that will have to be worked through to ensure schools are able to deliver on this pledge. Some schools that provide their own meals are not equipped or resourced to provide a meal to all children, some schools outsource their catering provision and there are issues with the supply chain that need to be addressed, and for others there are issues with capacity if meals are produced and brought into a setting from neighbouring schools.”