From this term all primary age children in Wales are now offered free school meals. The scheme was aimed at tackling school hunger, but headteachers in secondary schools have warned older pupils need help too.
Some heads have been lobbying for the Welsh Government’s free school meal offer to be extended to children aged 11 and above. Schools including Monmouth High and St Martin’s in Caerphilly have run free breakfast clubs because children and teenagers were arriving for lessons hungry and you can read more about that here .
Families not eligible for free school meals at secondary may still struggle to pay for lunches and snacks for their older children. Those eligible also need more than just the lunch offer and don’t have cash for snacks and breakfast, staff have reported.
Councils have reminded parents of secondary age pupils that if they are on certain benefits they are eligible for free school meals. Schools also want families of primary age children, who get benefits, to let them know, so they don’t miss out on other help offered to help with school costs.
In addition to universal free school meals for primary age children, families who receive benefits and with children of all ages, should continue to register for a free school meal with their local authority.
Those eligible can also get added financial help from the Welsh Government School Essentials Grant (formerly Pupil Development Grant) School Essentials Grant which helps with the cost of uniform, sports equipment, stationery, and devices.
Registering for available help may also mean a child’s school can access additional funding which can be spent on supporting learning, Wales’ largest education authority, Cardiff, has pointed out.
Qualifying benefits for secondary age children to get free school meals include:
- Income Support
- Income Related Employment Support Allowance
- Income Based JobSeeker’s Allowance
- Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit, or
- Child Tax Credit with an income less than £16,190
- Universal Credit if the net household earnings is less than £7,400.
