Free school meals will not be delivered to eligible families this half-term, or any other school holidays, Caerphilly County Borough Council has confirmed.
Instead, a weekly payment of £19.50 per child, equivalent to £3.90 a day, will be made to families via the Post Office. However, final details of how the scheme will work have yet to be announced.
Families should hear from the Post Office by Friday, November 4 – even though children finish for their holidays on October 28 and are due to head back to class on Monday, November 7.
Senior Plaid Cymru councillor Charlotte Bishop is calling for urgent clarity on the issue.
The Aber Valley councillor and deputy group leader said: “I have spoken to council officers and they tell me due to short notice from the Welsh Government a decision had been taken to introduce a voucher scheme for all pupils eligible for free school meals.”
She added: “I am concerned that parents don’t currently know when the vouchers will be available, although they will be valid for a month.
“As everyone knows the cost-of-living crisis is affecting families and individuals severely and the council needs to inform parents and foodbanks as soon as possible about what is happening to help feed children next week.”
The Welsh Government has agreed to fund free school meals over the holidays up until and including the February half-term 2023.
“My view is that this scheme needs to go beyond February half-term because of the current crisis and to stop it then would punish children of some of the poorest families,” added Cllr Bishop.
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