Migration 
This briefing answers some of the questions about implementing a Fair Free School Meals policy that provides meals to all children in poverty, regardless of their parents’ immigration status.
In October, the Bevan Foundation launched a Fair Free School Meal campaign*, urging Welsh Government to extend eligibility for free school meals to all children, regardless of immigration status. In this briefing, we address some of the questions about implementation that have arisen in our conversations with decision-makers and stakeholders.
This briefing highlights:
- In 2022, the UK Government permanently extended eligibility in England for free school meals to all families with NRPF whose household income was below a minimum threshold. This was done via policy change and without any amendment to primary legislation.
- Free school meals are funded by Welsh Government. Any extension of eligibility would also sit within the Welsh Government budget.
- Including children from low-income households affected by NRPF in free school meal eligibility would represent less than a 1.7 per cent increase in numbers in Wales.
- A fair and inclusive free school meals policy is a children’s rights issue. Children in secondary schools cannot wait any longer for Fair Free School Meals.
For more information about free school meals and No Recourse to Public Funds in Wales, see our briefing published in July 2024.
*The Fair Free School Meals campaign is led in collaboration with the NRPF Coalition Wales and is supported by the Children’s Commissioner and Future Generations Commissioner.
Pages: 3
Format: PDF
Language: English
Cost: Free
