Children receiving free school meals during half-term

Children who are eligible for free schools meals will receive ten meals a week throughout half-term.

Last week, a proposal to extend free school meal provision in England was rejected by the UK Parliament, despite a petition and campaign by Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford.

However, this doesn’t apply to Wales, where free school meals have been secured for all school holidays until April 2021.

The Welsh Government has made £420,000 available to free school meal pupils who are self-isolating or shielding, while £11 million has been provided to cover free school meals during the holiday periods.

In Caerphilly County Borough, meals were delivered to eligible children last week, ready for this week’s half-term break.

Meals will also be provided for pupils in years 9, 10, 11 and a12 for the week starting November 2. These age groups will not be returning to school until November 9, following the end of the firebreak lockdown in Wales.

Councillor Ross Whiting, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet member for learning and achievement, described the approach taken by the council and Welsh Government as “much fairer” than the UK Government, and said it was the “right thing to do”.