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 may be 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
Visit the following for further information on getting help:
- Get help with school costs | GOV.WALES
- Free school meals to be served up during Easter holidays | GOV.WALES
As part of its programme of work to help children to learn about farming, food and the environment, Welsh red meat body Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) has linked up with top UK-wide platform Countryside Classroom to make its learning resources even more accessible.
HCC have invested in a new range of children’s resources suitable for ages 3-16, including lesson plans, recipes and activities. The materials are available on its own www.redmeathub.wales platform, and a selection will now be accessible via the Countryside Classroom, in both English and Welsh.