Free School Meals for our youngest pupils to start from September

Following Welsh Government’s announcement, the Council has confirmed that all Reception pupils will be offered Free School Meals from September, followed by Year 1 and 2 pupils early next year.

On Monday (June 20), Welsh Government announced that Reception class children will begin to receive Universal Primary Free School Meals – as part of its commitment to provide every primary school pupil with a free school meal by 2024. It added that most children in Years 1 and 2 will also start receiving the provision by April 2023, with Local Authorities given support to deliver it.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has now confirmed that from the start of the 2022 autumn term on Monday, September 5, 2022, Reception children in the County Borough will be offered Free School Meals.

In addition, all Year 1 children in Rhondda Cynon Taf will begin to receive the offer from the start of the spring school term in January 2023, followed by all Year 2 children from the start of the school summer term in April 2023.

Councillor Rhys Lewis, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Youth Participation and the Welsh Language, said: “I’m delighted that the Council has been able to confirm its position in relation to the roll-out of Universal Primary Free School Meals, very quickly following Welsh Government’s announcement. This is a very important step in reaching the shared ambition that no child goes hungry while they are in school.

“The Council update has confirmed that our young learners in Reception will begin receiving free school meals in the new school year from September 2022, followed by Years 1 and 2 in early 2023. It’s particularly pleasing that Year 1 pupils in Rhondda Cynon Taf will receive the provision in January 2023, ahead of the guideline of April 2023 set to Local Authorities.

“The Council has this week written to parents and carers to confirm the local arrangements following Welsh Government’s announcement, and will further communicate with families as the offer is rolled out for each year group.”