Free school meals to be served up during Easter holidays

Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru have agreed to provide funding for free school meals to children from lower-income families during the Easter and Whitsun school holidays.

This is in response to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, which has been affecting families across Wales.

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The free meal provision will be available to eligible pupils until the end of the May half-term holiday, including all bank holidays during this period. Local authorities will decide how to administer the provision during the Easter holidays, either by providing lunches or by giving out vouchers or direct payments to eligible families.

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 (as long as you don't also get Working Tax Credit and    your  annual income is £16,190 or less before tax)
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit - your household income must be less than £7,400 a year after tax

Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, said:

“No child should have to worry about going hungry over the school holidays. I am pleased that we have been able to extend free holiday provision to the May half term holiday. 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.

“I would encourage families to find out whether they qualify by speaking to their local authority.”

Plaid Cymru’s Designated Member, Sian Gwenllian, said:

“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.”

This agreement to provide free school meal holiday provision to lower-income families during the Easter and Whitsun school holidays will help alleviate the financial burden on families who are already struggling to make ends meet.