Admission to School - Information for Parents 2026-2027
In this section
- Introduction
- SECTION A - Admissions to Carmarthenshire Schools
- When to Apply
- At what age can children start Primary school?
- Admission to secondary schools and sixth form
- Choosing a School and Catchment Areas
- How to Apply
- Awarding Places – Oversubscription Criteria
- Moving / Changing Schools outside the normal admissions arrangements (Mid/in Year Transfers)
- Notification of Offer of a Place at a School
- Appeals Regarding Admission of Pupils to Community / Voluntary Controlled Primary or Secondary Schools
- Admission to Voluntary Aided Schools
- SECTION B - Information on Education and Learning
- Learning Experiences
- The Teaching of Welsh and English in Carmarthenshire Schools
- Public Examinations
- Exclusion of Pupils
- School Activities
- School Leaving Date
- School Governing Bodies
- SECTION C – Services to Pupils
- Carmarthenshire County Council – School Transport Policy
- School Meals & School Essentials Grant
- Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
- School Safeguarding and Attendance Team
- Trust Funds
- The Careers Service
- Carmarthenshire Family Information Service
- The Childcare Offer
- Health & Well-being Promoting Schools Programme
- Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship Education
- SECTION D – Schools and Pupil Summary
- SECTION E - Carmarthenshire Schools: Nursery Schools
- Carmarthenshire Schools: Community, Voluntary Controlled and Voluntary Aided Primary Schools
- Carmarthenshire Schools: Secondary Schools and Voluntary Aided Secondary Schools
- Carmarthenshire Schools: Special Schools
School Meals & School Essentials Grant
Overview
Carmarthenshire School Meals service provides a choice of nutritionally balanced and value for money meals for every school in the county. School meals play an important part in teaching children social skills and introducing them to different and varied food options.
Pupils in primary schools are offered a free breakfast and have a choice of a cooked two-course meal every day, and secondary school pupils having cafeterias which provide a choice of meals, snacks, fruit and puddings to pupils, available at lunch and morning break times.
If your child has a special dietary requirement issue, then please inform the school and the catering staff and the service will do its best to accommodate the requirements.
The service also provides facilities for pupils to be provided with drinking water at mealtimes.
1 - Free Breakfast
The School Catering Service run a free breakfast service in 97 locations (as at July 2022). Breakfast is recognised as the most important meal of the day and evidence shows that a healthy breakfast is linked to better health and concentration during the school day.
The majority of breakfast services open at 8:15am where pupils can choose from a range of options for breakfast.
2 - School Meals Menus
School meals make an important contribution to the diets of children and young people. School menus comply with Welsh Government ‘Healthy Eating in Schools’ (Nutritional Standards and Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2013). Special dietary requirements can also be catered for upon written request from parents/guardians.
Current meal prices are available via ParentPay our nominated system to collect online payments for school meals, www.parentpay.com. All secondary school cafeterias also operate a cashless catering till system.
3 - Free School Meals
You could be eligible for free school meals if you receive one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
- Guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Child Tax Credit and your annual income is no more than £16,190
- Universal Credit and your household's annual net income is no more than £7,400
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
If you are in receipt of Working Tax Credit in addition to any of these benefits you will not be eligible, even if the household income is below £16,190.
Please note: Children in receipt of one of the benefits themselves are also entitled to Free School Meals. The provision of free school meals in Wales is subject to change. The latest information can be found on our website.
The Welsh Government has an information page regarding guidelines for free school meals which provides additional information.
How do I apply for Free School Meals?
You can apply for free school meals in minutes online via our website.
How will I know if I have been successful and do I need to apply annually?
Once we receive your online application, we will envisage to process your application within 5 working days. You will be notified of the award by e-mail. There is no need to re-apply for each new school year this entitlement will automatically follow your child.
When do I need to inform you of a change in circumstances?
You must inform us immediately if any of the details on your claim have changed, this can be done on-line via our website.
If you don’t do so, your eligibility could be cancelled, and you may have to pay for any meals.
- You need to tell us if your child is moving to a new school e.g. primary to secondary or to a different school in Carmarthenshire or to a school outside Carmarthenshire.
- You need to let us know if your circumstances change e.g.: You start work / Your benefit changes
- You need to let us know if you and your child change address.
- You need to let us know if you have another child starting school for the first time.
- You need to let us know if your child no longer lives with you and whether someone else should be claiming on behalf of your child.
Contact Details:
E-mail: Meals@carmarthenshrie.gov.uk
Tel: 01267 246521
Universal Primary Free School Meals for full time primary pupils
Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM) are available to all full-time primary pupils. Please note that part-time pupils and those in childcare settings (even if the setting is within a school e.g., Cylch Meithrin) are NOT eligible.
The existing Free School Meal (FSM) scheme remains in place for ALL other eligible full-time pupils on roll in Carmarthenshire schools.
4 - Provision of Milk
The Authority operates two schemes for providing milk free of charge to pupils, namely the under the age of 5 scheme operated in accordance with the National Milk Re-imbursement Unit (NMRU) and the Key Stage 1 scheme in accordance with The National Assembly for Wales Regulations 2001. Both schemes receive a subsidy from the EC School Milk Scheme.
Free school milk is also provided for pupils over the age of 5 in individual cases on medical grounds and where children attend special schools or units. Schools are allowed to make their own local arrangements if they wish to introduce financially self-supporting milk schemes.
5 - School uniform and equipment grant
Welsh Government has introduced a School Essentials Grant. This is to provide grant assistance to families on low incomes for the purchase of:
- School uniform including coats and shoes.
- School sports kit including footwear.
- Uniform for enrichment activities, including but not limited to, scouts; guides; cadets; martial arts; sports; performing arts or dance.
- Equipment e.g. school bags and stationery.
- Specialist equipment where new curriculum activities begin such as design and technology; and
- Equipment for out-of-school-hours trips such as outdoor learning e.g. waterproofs.
Please note that the above list can be subject to change.
Who is eligible?
Funding is available to pupils who are eligible for Free School Meals for the current academic year (2024/2025). The Welsh Government announce the level of funding and eligible year groups for each academic year. The latest information can be found on our website.
How to apply?
You can apply for School Essentials Grant (SEG) in minutes online via our website.
