Free School Meals now available for over 9,000 primary school children in Wrexham

Over nine thousand primary school children across Wrexham are now eligible for a free school meal.

As part of the Co-operative agreement between Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru all pupils in reception through to year six will be able to receive a hot meal each afternoon throughout term time by 2024.

In Wrexham the Universal Free School Meal scheme has already been implemented, with the rollout to years three and six taking place at the start of the September term.

Since its launch last year hundreds of extra meals have been served to infants pupils each day in Wrexham’s primary schools.

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. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Phil Wynn, lead member for education, said: “Around 9400 children across the county borough will now be eligible for Universal Primary Free School Meals.

Lead Member for Education, Cllr Phil Wynn

“This is in addition to nearly 2500 children who are already eligible for income-based free school meals. During the last summer term we saw up to 73% of children in reception to year 2 receive a universal primary free school meal.

“A nutritious, hot meal at school has both health and educational benefits including educational attainment due to improved classroom behaviour, so I am really pleased to see so many families taking up this offer.

“In Wrexham we received capital funding of £2.5 million from Welsh Government, which has been used to invest in new kitchen and dining equipment in many of Wrexham’s primary schools. Welsh Government is also providing revenue funding towards the cost of the meals.”

With the local authority currently making budget cuts and pausing new recruitment, we asked Wrexham Council if the vacancy rates for school catering staff would be impacted.

Cllr Wynn added: “All of the cook and kitchen assistant posts currently advertised have been approved and, once they are filled, we expect to have sufficient staff available in kitchens to meet the increased demand for school meals.”

If your child currently receives Free School Meals based on your circumstances, you may also be entitled to additional help through the School Essentials Grant, which includes financial support for uniform, sports equipment and devices. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wrexham Council is urging parents to continue applying for Free School Meals from September so that your child receives the maximum support that they’re entitled to. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To access this year’s scheme visit the School Essentials Grant page on the Wrexham Council website.