Free school meals: Wales’ rollout starts in September – High Speed Training expert comment

Background – copy from BBC

Reception class children in Wales will get free school meals from September – the first in a rollout for all primary school pupils.

All the country’s approximately 272,000 primary school pupils are set to get free lunches by 2024.

It is part of a deal between Plaid Cymru and the Labour Welsh government.

Because of the cost of living crisis, ministers said they were working with local authorities to ensure it was started as quickly as possible.

A total of £225m has been set aside to pay for it over the next three years.

From September, Wales’ 22 local authorities will begin receiving the money, with pupils aged four and five the first to get their free lunches.

Comment

Hannah Hawthorne, Education Learning Designer at High Speed Training

“Research by The Food Foundation showed that 2·6 million children in the UK were food insecure in April 2022. That is over 2 million children who live in households that cannot access a healthy and affordable diet. This must change. 

“We are, therefore, delighted to see the launch of free school meals in Wales for all reception age children – as hungry children simply cannot learn. 

“A well-balanced diet, which provides children with their daily recommended calorie intake, can increase concentration levels and improve sleep quality – factors which are vital in creating an environment conducive to learning.

“A hot meal everyday will also bring hundreds of thousands of children across Wales comfort and stability. Providing certainty in challenging times can help to alleviate anxiety, and therefore reduce the possibility of worsening mental health outcomes.”

High Speed Training’s Child mental health awareness training course.

Link to BBC story – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-61853137