The Welsh Government will ensure all pupils entitled to free school meals will continue to receive provisions if they are shielding or have to self-isolate thanks to £420,000 of funding.

Ensuring the continuation of free school meal provision has been a key priority for the Welsh Government as it has responded to the coronavirus pandemic.

This new funding is in addition to the £7 million would be made available to local authorities alongside the initial lockdown in March, to put in place measures to ensure that children eligible for free school meals would continue to benefit from this scheme.

Then on April 22, Wales became the first country in the UK to guarantee ongoing funding for children to continue to benefit from free school meal provision up to and including the end of the summer holidays

The Minister for Housing and Local Government, Julie James said:

Ensuring children can continue to receive free school meals whether they are physically in a school building or not has been a priority for the Welsh Government and this announcement reconfirms this commitment.

This funding will allow local authorities to ensure no child misses out on this vital service and I will continue to work with Local Authorities to ensure they can are able to deliver key services and respond to the pandemic.