November 06, 2026 - 185 views
More secondary school pupils across Wales will be eligible for free school meals as the Welsh Government expands its scheme to include Year 7 and Year 8 learners from households receiving Universal Credit.
All 22 local authorities are expected to be providing meals to eligible pupils by January 2027, with more than half already offering them under the expanded arrangements.
Parents and carers of Year 7 and Year 8 children who receive Universal Credit are being encouraged to register through their local authority to ensure their child can access the support.
Previously, secondary school pupils could only qualify for free school meals if their family received Universal Credit and had household earnings below £7,400 a year, excluding benefits.
The expansion is part of a Welsh Government commitment to extend access to free school meals and follows the introduction of Universal Primary Free School Meals.
An interim evaluation of the primary school scheme found high levels of awareness and take-up, with benefits for children and families including improved wellbeing and savings on household budgets.
Alongside the expansion, new rules governing food served in primary schools came into force on October 31. The Healthy Eating in Schools regulations are designed to improve the nutritional quality of school meals by increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables available and restricting foods high in sugar and fried products.
School food will also be an early priority as the Welsh Government develops its new Food Strategy for Wales.
Cabinet Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Anna Brychan, said extending the scheme to Year 7 and 8 pupils was the first step towards providing free school meals to more secondary school learners.
She said access to nutritious food could improve concentration, educational attainment and overall health, and encouraged eligible families to register with their local authority.
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality, Sioned Williams, said extending eligibility would make a difference to pupils' daily lives and form part of wider efforts to tackle child poverty and reduce inequality across Wales.
The Welsh Government says the expansion sits alongside other measures aimed at supporting low-income families, including plans for an expanded childcare offer and the proposed Cynnal child payment pilot, subject to assurances from the UK Government about its impact on people receiving the payment.
A new Child Poverty Strategy is also being developed, with the Welsh Government promising clear targets and accountability.
