Caerphilly County Borough Council is the only council in Gwent still providing free school meals.

The other four Gwent councils are offering a direct payment or supermarket vouchers for parents of children entitled to free school meals.

Initially, all five Gwent councils provided free school meals to students in their local authority area who were entitled to it.

However, within the last month or so, Newport, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire councils have all decided to offer a direct payment or supermarket voucher to cover the cost of the child’s meal.

In Caerphilly County Borough, children continue to receive frozen meals, which can be delivered to the child’s home.

In Newport, parents of children entitled to free school meals can receive a supermarket voucher each week worth £39.

In Blaenau Gwent, parents will receive £19.50 a week (£3.90 per day). This works out as £1 for breakfast and £2.90 for lunch.

This will get deposited into the parent’s bank account for “nutritious meals”.

In April, Monmouthshire and Torfaen replaced free school meals with a direct bank payment to eligible parents.

To apply for free school meals, visit https://bit.ly/33GxEBy or contact 01443 864055.