Free school meals to be served up in Wales during Easter holidays

Free school meal holiday provision will continue to be available to children from lower income families for the Easter and Whitsun school holidays.

The funding is an agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.

During the easter holidays individual local authorities will decide how to administer the free meal provision, either by creating lunches or by providing vouchers or direct payments to eligible families.

With the cost-of-living crisis continuing to have an impact on families across Wales, funding is being provided to offer eligible pupils a free school meal up until the end of May half term holiday, including all bank holidays during this period.

Families maybe able to qualify for free school meals and free holiday provision if they get any of the following:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Child Tax Credit (provided the family does not receive Working Tax Credit and their annual income is £16,190 or less before tax)
• Guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after ceasing to qualify for Working Tax Credit)
• Universal Credit (with a household income less than £7,400 a year after tax)

Families seeking further information on financial assistance can visit the GOV.WALES website’s “Get help with school costs” page.

Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, emphasised the importance of this provision, stating, “No child should have to worry about going hungry over the school holidays.

“We know that food has a huge impact on concentration and children’s overall well-being.”

“I want children and young people to be able to enjoy their school holidays and take pressure off families who are already struggling with the cost of living.”

Miles encouraged families to contact their local authorities to determine their eligibility.

Plaid Cymru’s Designated Member, Sian Gwenllian, also expressed support for the initiative, saying, “When the school doors close for the holidays, our support for those who most need it should not come to an end.”

“We are working together to make sure no child goes hungry over the Easter and May school holidays and helping hard-pressed families during the cost of living crisis.”