A NEW way of providing free school meals in the county is being implemented.

Following the decision to close schools due to coronavirus, Denbighshire County Council's education and catering teams served up free school meals to those eligible - a total of 3,500 children, 1,900 families.

For the past two weeks, the catering team provided free school meals through the key workers’ child care settings set up in many of the county’s schools.

Those attending the sessions were able to receive a meal, whilst those not attending were able to pick up packed lunches.

The council is now switching to a direct payments system where money allocated for school meals will be provided to parents or guardians instead of a physical school meal.

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts, cabinet lead member for Education and Public Engagement, said: "We pulled out all the stops to make it happen and I’m tremendously proud of the team

“Whilst we recognise that the previous way of providing school meals was not ideal, it was truly the best option possible, given the timeframe.

“We have also been disappointed with the low take up of free school meals during this time, so we hope that the new system will provide reassurance that pupils are receiving meals they are entitled to."

The Welsh Government has advised councils that the decision on how to provide free school meals rests with local authorities themselves. That is why we are now putting alternative plans in place in Denbighshire.

Cllr Julian Thompson-Hill, cabinet lead member for Finance said: “The Welsh Government has advised councils that the decision on how to provide free school meals rests with local authorities themselves. That is why we are now putting alternative plans in place in Denbighshire.

“A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to put plans in place for the direct payments system.

“Parents and guardians will be notified of the new way of working and we would urge them to make sure they follow our guidance, to ensure that free school meals continues to be available, albeit in a different way”.

In Conwy, for children entitled to free school meals, direct payments will be made into parents’ bank accounts to buy food equivalent to the free school meal.

Conwy County Borough Council will be writing to parents who live with children entitled to free school meals.

A spokesperson for the local authority said: "We’ll be writing to all parents who live with children entitled to free school meals to ask them submit their details via a secure online form on the Conwy website.

"We’re currently developing the online form (a paper copy will be available for those without access to the internet) and we’re working through the necessary financial checks and fraud prevention processes.

"The online form will be available as soon as possible.

"In the meantime, the packed lunch will continue to be available from your nearest school open for child care."

Any families who think they may be eligible for free school meals, perhaps due to change in circumstance during the Covid-19 outbreak, can apply online at: www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Resident/Benefits-and-grants/Education-Benefits/Free-School-Meals-in-Conwy-County-Borough.aspx