From September 2023, approximately 1600 primary school pupils starting Year 3 will be offered a free school meal.
The offer, which coincides with the start of the new academic school year, follows the previous roll-out of free school meals to Reception pupils in September 2022, and to Year 1 and Year 2 pupils in April this year.
Over 4600 pupils in the county borough are now entitled to a universal primary free school meal, and it is hoped that the offer will be extended to Nursery school pupils in January 2024, Year 4 pupils in April 2024, and to Year 5 and Year 6 pupils in September 2024.
The scheme is part of the Welsh Government Universal Primary Free School Meals initiative, which was launched in 2022 to help families ease the burden of the cost-of-living crisis.
I am delighted that we are now able to offer the free school meals initiative to Year 3 pupils in the county borough, alongside the Reception and Year 1 and Year 2 pupils who have already benefitted from the scheme.
The significant capital funding we have secured in funding from the Welsh Government has helped us to improve and refurbish school kitchens to further provide support to pupils and we hope to extend this support in 2024 and eventually offer a free school meal to every primary school pupil in the county borough.
Once again, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all staff and schools in Bridgend County Borough Council for their continued support, and for their hard work in delivering this vital service.
Councillor Jon-Paul Blundell, Cabinet Member for Education
Parents and carers of Year 3 pupils are reminded that there is no need to complete an application, as pupils will automatically benefit from the provision.
