Three year groups to receive free school meals
Vale of Glamorgan school pupils in Years One and Two will receive free school meals seven months ahead of the Welsh Government schedule, the Council has confirmed.
Welsh Government announced on Monday that Reception pupils will be given school meals without charge from September, with pupils in the next two year groups joining them in April.
But the Vale of Glamorgan Council has been able to accelerate the process meaning all three year groups will be offered free school meals from the start of the new school year.
The provision will be delivered in partnership with The Big Fresh Catering Company and has been possible thanks to the success of that venture.
Cllr Rhiannon Birch, Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Education, Arts and the Welsh Language, said: “In response to the current cost-of living crisis, the Council, alongside Welsh Government and the Big Fresh Catering Company, is pleased to announce that from September pupils in Reception, Year One and Year Two will be offered free, nutritious school meals.
“We are delighted that provision for the latter two year groups will be available significantly earlier than in other parts of Wales due to the excellent performance of the Big Fresh Catering Company.
“Times are hard at the moment, with energy, fuel and food prices all increasing and many facing food poverty. Hopefully this can go some way to easing the pressure being felt by families and help ensure that no child goes hungry while in school.”
The Council established Big Fresh as A Local Authority Trading Company in 2020.
It provides school meals for partner schools and operates a commercial catering service and a bar and café at Penarth Pier Pavilion.
An innovative business model allows the company to operate as a commercial entity, with all surpluses returned to schools or used to sustain the business itself.
In keeping with this not-for-profit ethos, none of the company directors are salaried and the Council, as the only shareholder, has not drawn any funds from the company.
Money has been paid to support school and community projects, invested in better quality ingredients and gone towards sponsoring community groups such as football teams and arts clubs.
Since its establishment, the Big Fresh Catering Company has created allergen-free menus, increased vegan and vegetarian options, with more meals made from scratch and all meeting Welsh Government nutritional standards.
It also has a no single-use plastic policy, supporting the Council’s Project Zero initiative, which aims to make the organisation carbon neutral by 2030.