Universal free school meals begin in Wales for youngest children

Kids in Wales have started to receive universal free school meals this week, but older children must wait. 

School children aged four and five are being offered the meals this month as part of a phased rollout to all primary school children by 2024. 

Eight local authorities have said year 1 and 2 pupils will also qualify from the start of term. 

But the Welsh Conservatives slammed the plans that include free meals for children of “millionaire families.” 

All of Wales’ approximately 272,000 primary school pupils are set to get free lunches by 2024 in a deal between the Plaid Cymru and the Labour Welsh government. 

The joint policy will further be extended to around 6,000 nursery-age children.