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Children's and Parents' Perspectives on Universal Free School Meals in Wales: A Mixed Methods Study on Health, Wellbeing and Barriers to Uptake

2026-03-04 health policy Title + abstract only
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BackgroundUniversal Free School Meals (UFSM) were introduced by the Welsh Government in 2022 to provide every primary school child (aged 4-11) with a free meal at lunch time by 2024, aiming to improve nutrition and reduce inequality. While evidence suggests UFSM can support dietary quality and social inclusion; uptake remains inconsistent, and concerns have been raised regarding meal quality and portion sizes. Aims/ObjectivesThis study explored the perceptions of children and parents regarding ...

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