Universal Primary Free School Meals

All local authorities across Wales completed the rollout of universal primary free school meals in schools in  September 2024. This commitment from the Welsh Government made eligibility of free school meals to all primary school pupils.

This is an important further step to reaching our shared ambitions of tackling child poverty and ensuring that no child goes hungry while in school.

The Welsh Government have big ambitions for the provision of universal free school meals in Wales. It is hoping to:

• raise the profile of healthy eating across the whole school;
• increase the range of food pupils eat,
• improve social skills and wellbeing at meal times; and lead to improvements to behaviour and attainment;
• In the future it will also impact on local food supply and support the economy of Wales.

Parents/carers of primary aged children from low income households, should still check their eligibility for eligible free school meals (eFSM), even though their children are eligible for a universal primary free school meal as you may be entitled to claim the School Essentials Grant.