Migration 
As we head into the school summer holidays, this briefing sets out the key issues surrounding free school meals for children affected by no recourse to public funds in Wales.
Free school meals are a vital mechanism for tackling child poverty and ensuring that no child goes hungry at school. Following on from our report on no recourse to public funds and the cost-of-living crisis, the Bevan Foundation has prepared a briefing which concisely summarises why entitlement to free school meals is an essential part of tackling poverty and hunger in children affected by no recourse to public funds. The briefing was noted in the meeting of the Senedd Equality and Social Justice Committee on 15th July.
Among its key messages are:
- All children from households below the income threshold should have the right to a free school meal.
- Children in Wales outside the universal primary rollout are routinely excluded from accessing free meals at school because of their parents’ immigration status.
- Restricting eligibility for free school meals based on parents’ immigration status disproportionately affects children from black and ethnic minorities and results in discrimination.
- Welsh Government policy restricts an estimated 1500 children in secondary schools from the right to an essential meal at school, and often blocks access to the School Essentials Grant.
- The Welsh Government should extend eligibility for free school meals to children with no recourse to public funds, in line with current eligibility in England.
Pages: 2
Format: PDF
Language: English
Cost: Free
