15 million free school meals served to primary school children across Wales

15 million free school meals have been served in primary schools across Wales as part of the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.

The phased rollout of providing a free school meal to all primary school pupils started in 2022

In Wrexham thousands of pupils are eligible for a free meal each day during term time.

Between September 2022 and the end of March 89,502 meals were served locally, with an average of 716 reception children receiving a free meal every day. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌​‌‌‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​​‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​​

Providing free school meals to all primary school pupils is a key commitment in the programme, which was signed two years ago.

All primary school children and more than 6,000 nursery-age pupils attending a maintained school will be eligible for free school meals by the end of 2024.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “Over the last two years we have worked closely together on a wide range of commitments which are making a real difference to people all over Wales – from free school meals in primary schools and expanding childcare for two-year-olds to investing in flood defences.

“I look forward to continuing this relationship as we enter the final year of the agreement.”

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said: “Working together where we have common ground is grown-up politics and good for Wales.

“The Co-operation Agreement sets out a range of specific policies where we have made a commitment to work together and this second annual report sets out the progress we have made.

“We remain committed to these shared ambitions for the people of Wales.”