Extra £2.5m to be spent improving kitchens in Swansea primary schools

An extra £2.5m is set to be spent improving school kitchens and updating equipment as Swansea works to expand the free school meal offer to all primary school pupils.

It will mean more than £4.3m will have been invested in schools so that all pupils will be offered a free hot lunch every day of term.

The Welsh Government has made a commitment for every primary school pupil to receive a free school meal by 2024.

In Swansea more than 2,400 reception pupils have been offered free meals since school resumed in September.

Just over £1.8m has been spent so far investing in new equipment and staff, as well as modifications to kitchens in some schools.

Now the council’s cabinet has committed a further £2,526,996 so that the 2024 target is delivered.

Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Learning, Robert Smith, said: “During this cost of living crisis the Welsh Government’s Free School Meal pledge is more important than ever and I’m grateful to ministers for the funding that is being provided to enable us to deliver this.

“By 2024 all children in primary schools will be offered a free school meal and in Swansea we are already making good progress in preparing to meet this commitment.

“We are working hard to be in a position to extend the offer beyond reception once the infrastructure is in place and we will be updating parents and carers as soon as we are in a position to include more year groups.”