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Seventy-million pounds of funding will go towards further expanding free school meal provision for primary school pupils in Years 3 and 4.

The Welsh Government wants to provide free school meals for all primary school pupils in Wales by 2024.

The policy forms part of the Welsh Government’s Co-operation Agreement with Plaid Cymru.

So far, nearly five million extra free meals have been provided across the country since September 2022.

All pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are currently eligible for free school meals.

The next stage of the rollout, which will begin this September, will see all pupils in Years 3 and 4 become eligible.

The Welsh Government has committed £260m to the rollout over three years, including £60m for local authorities to improve school kitchens to cater for the scheme.

Wales’ education minister, Jeremy Miles, said: “We are working at pace to ensure that every primary school child benefits from a nutritional school meal and that no child goes hungry.

“We know how difficult it is currently for families during the cost-of-living crisis. Universal free school meals provide significant financial help to families, while providing a nutritional meal to help children concentrate on learning.

“I would like to thank local authority teams across Wales who are working hard to rollout universal free school meals quickly.”

Plaid Cymru’s Designated Member, Siân Gwenllian, said the “life-changing” programme was “needed now more than ever”.