Phased Rollout of Universal Primary Free School Meals
In September 2022, the rollout of Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM) across Wales began, starting with learners in Reception. The policy is part of the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru, which will see free school meals extended to all primary school learners over the next two years.
Following the successful roll-out of UPFSM to Reception, Year 1 and eligible Nursery age pupils in Rhondda Cynon Taf the next phase is to commence from 1st April 2023, where the offer will be extended to include all Year 2 pupils and eligible Nursery pupils.
Eligible Nursery pupils are those who attend local authority* Nursery provision on a full-time basis (morning and afternoon sessions) in accordance with the Councils admissions policy: -
- All pupils aged 4 years, between 1st September 2022 and 31st December 2022, will be eligible for a free school meal from January 2023.
- All pupils aged 4 years, between 1st January 2023 and 31st March 2023, will be eligible for a free school meal from April 2023.
- All pupils aged 4 years, between 1st April 2023 and 31st August 2023, will be eligible for a free school meal from September 2023.
* To assist your understanding of our full-time Nursery admissions criteria, an excerpt from the Councils ‘Starting School’ booklet has been provided below; this sets out the admission arrangements for Nursery pupils.
NOTE: Some schools do offer, and directly fund, a full-time Nursery place from their own school budget; in this case, pupils are not eligible to receive a UPFSM.
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(Excerpt from ‘Starting School Booklet 2022-2023’)
2.1: Pre-Nursery / Nursery Education
The Council continuously reviews and reserves the right to amend its admission procedures for non-statutory pre-nursery and nursery education.
2.1.1 Pre-Nursery Education
Pre-Nursery Education is provided part time to children the term following their 3rd birthday. Parents will be able to apply online in September for a pre-nursery place to start in January (term after their child's third birthday) and can apply online in January for a pre-nursery place to start in April (term after their child's third birthday).
2.1.2 Nursery Education
Nursery Education is provided part time from the September i.e. the start of the academic year in which the child turns 4. Full time places are provided the term after the child turns four.
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Within Rhondda Cynon Taf, the Council will be rolling out the UPFSM offer as follows:-
- from 5th September 2022, all Reception aged pupils have been offered a UPFSM.
- from January 2023, all Year 1 pupils have been offered a UPFSM.
- from January 2023, Nursery pupils, who are eligible, have been offered a UPFSM.
- from April 2023, the offer will be extended to Year 2 pupils.
- from April 2023, the offer will be extended to include Nursery pupils, who are eligible.
- from September 2023, the offer will be extended to Year 3 and 4 pupils.
- from April 2024, the offer will be extended to Year 5 and 6 pupils.