Free school meals

Schools across Scotland are now serving up free school meals to every Primary 1-3 pupil, following the Scottish government’s expanded free schools meals policy coming into effect on 5 January.

Their introduction has been supported by campaigners against child poverty, including the unions, Child Poverty Action Group Scotland, Children in Scotland and One Parent Families Scotland.

The Scottish government is providing revenue funding of £70.5 million over two years to deliver the commitment, supported with total additional capital funding for all 32 local councils in Scotland of £24.8 million.

Free school meals are already available for primary school children of any age under certain criteria. This includes parents in receipt of Income Support; income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance; any income-related element of Employment and Support Allowance; Child Tax Credit (with income lower than £16,010); both maximum Child Tax Credit and maximum Working Tax Credit (with income lower than £6,420); support under the Immigration and Asylum Act, and Universal Credit.

Since September 2014 all state-funded schools in England, including academies and free schools, have had a legal duty to offer free meals for all children in Reception to Year 2, under the Universal Infant Free School Meals policy.

Under the new policy an extra 1.55 million children have become entitled to a free hot meal every lunchtime, bringing the eligible total to more than 1.9 million youngsters.

www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/HLivi/schoolmeals/FreeSchoolMeals

www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-infant-free-school-meals