Lunch is provided at all schools in Denbighshire. In primary schools, all meals have a fixed price. Secondary schools serve lunches on a cafeteria basis, with different prices for different meals.
Universal Primary Free School Meals
To help with the rising costs-of-living, we are working with Welsh Government so that every primary school pupil will be offered free school meals by 2024 through the Universal Primary Free School Meals scheme.
This is different to the Free School Meals scheme which is available for people who receive certain benefits.
If you are eligible to receive Free School Meals because you receive a qualifying benefit, we recommend that you apply for Free School Meals as you will also be eligible for the school uniform and equipment grant.
Free School Meals during school holidays
Welsh Government has made funding available to make free school meal payments for eligible pupils during school holidays.
This is separate to the roll out of Universal Primary Free School Meals.
If your child is eligible for free school meals, you will receive a payment (per eligible child) of:
- £39 on Monday 3 April 2023 for the Easter holidays
- £7.80 on Friday 28 April 2023 for the Early May bank holiday (Monday 1 May 2023) and Bank holiday for the coronation of King Charles III (Monday 8 May 2023)
- £19.50 on Friday 26 May 2023 for the summer half term
If your child only receives Universal Primary Free School Meals you will not be eligible for this payment.
You can claim free school meals for your child if you receive any of the following:
- Income Support
- Job Seekers Allowance; Income Based
- Employment and Support Allowance; Income Related
- Pension Credit; Guaranteed Credit
- Child tax credit (but not working tax credit) with an annual income below £16,190
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Universal Credit - From the 1st of April 2019, to qualify for free school meals through receiving Universal Credit, your yearly net earnings must be no more than £7,400.
Find out more about tax free and taxable benefits (external website).
Foster children are not eligible for free school meals. This is because foster parents already receive an allowance for looking after the child.
How to claim free school meals
You can only apply for free school meals from the local authority of where your child goes to school.
If your child goes to a school in Denbighshire, you can apply online for free school meals.
If you currently receive free school meals from being in receipt of Universal credit, Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance Income Based, Employment and Support Allowance; Income Related or Guaranteed Pension Credit, you will continue receive them until December 2023.
If your child is eligible for free school meals, you will also be eligible for the school uniform and equipment grant, unless your child is in sixth form (the school uniform and equipment grant is not available for pupils in sixth form).
When applying, you’ll use the same application to claim both free school meals and the school uniform and equipment grant.
Apply online for free school meals (for a child going to a Denbighshire school)
Changing schools
Please let us know if your child leaves or changes school.
Please complete a free school meals application form to let us know if your child has moved school in Denbighshire or contact us to cancel free school meals.
Information from other Local Authorities