All Year One pupils attending schools in Swansea will be offered free school meals when classes resume after the February half-term break.
Pupils in Reception have been offered a free lunch since September 2022 and the expansion of the offer to Year One means more than 4,800 children in Swansea are now eligible.
Year One pupils will be automatically enrolled so there is no requirement for parents or carers to apply for the meals.
The Welsh Government made a commitment for every primary school pupil to receive a free school meal by 2024 and Swansea Council is working to achieve this target.
More than £4.3m is being invested in improving school kitchens and updating equipment in Swansea so that it can be delivered on time.
Council Cabinet Member for Education and Learning, Robert Smith, said: “During this cost of living crisis the Welsh Government’s Free School Meal pledge is more important than ever so I’m very pleased that in Swansea we are now in a position to extend the offer to all Year One pupils.
“I’m grateful to ministers for the funding that is being provided to enable us to deliver this.
“By 2024 all children in primary schools will be offered a free school meal and in Swansea we are making good progress in preparing to meet this commitment.
“We will be updating parents and carers as soon as we are in a position to include further year groups once the necessary infrastructure is in place.”
