Welsh Government publishes responses to Healthy Eating in Schools consultation
The ten-week consultation, held from 20th May to 29th July 2025, received over 2,700 responses from learners, parents, educators, health professionals, local authorities, and other stakeholders demonstrating strong engagement and a shared commitment to improving school food standards in Wales.
Wales leads the UK in providing free school meals to all primary schoolchildren. This important step helps tackle child poverty and hunger, supports learners to achieve, and contributes toward improved health, making a real difference in schools and communities across Wales.
Lynne Neagle, Cabinet Secretary for Education, commented: “Our ambition remains to help children and young people develop healthy eating habits, access healthier food during school hours and make healthy food choices. We know that good nutrition helps children perform better and reach their full potential.
“I am committed to continued collaboration and careful consideration of these findings prior to the final set of regulations for maintained primary and maintained nursery schools being laid. This will help us to strike the right balance between the outcomes we are hoping to achieve, their practical delivery on the ground, and the continued enjoyment of school meals by all children and young people.
“The intention is to lay the regulations in this Senedd term, and I will provide further communication on this matter at that time. We are grateful to all those who contributed to the consultation and look forward to continuing this important work in partnership with stakeholders across Wales.”