All pupils to get free school meals by 2022
Scheme to be rolled out to every year group in Renfrewshire
The number of children receiving free school meals in Renfrewshire is set to double in the next two years.
A hot meal will be provided to every primary school pupil in the local authority – around 13,000 youngsters – by the start of August 2022.
Figures show that 1,965 children in primary four will be the first to benefit from the meals as they will be entitled to school lunches from the start of the new school year.
A further 1,909 pupils in P5 will join the scheme in January.
They will add to the 5,440 children currently in receipt of free meals in primaries one to three.
The move has been made possible thanks to Scottish Government funding for local authorities totalling £28million.
Ross Greer, Green MSP for the West of Scotland, has been a passionate campaigner for universal free school meals for years.
He told the Express the expansion would support children’s learning while bolstering the household incomes of those families who are just about getting by.
He said: “Scottish Green MSPs were proud to secure the expansion of free school meals for every primary pupil during budget negotiations with the government earlier this year.
“It’s wonderful to see primary four and five pupils in Renfrewshire and across Scotland now set to benefit from that, followed by primaries six and seven later next year.
“Universal free school meals have been the norm for decades in other European countries.
“I’ve seen for myself the good they do in Finland, providing a lifeline to many families and boosting education performance by ensuring no child is trying to learn on an empty stomach.”
Across Renfrewshire an additional 7,651 children will ultimately benefit from the expansion of free school meals, with the 3,777 students in primaries six and seven set to be included in the scheme from August 2022.
Confirming the expansion of free school lunches, Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Free school meals are a vital support to thousands of children and young people across the country - ensuring that children have access to a free, healthy and nutritious meal every day they are in school and are ready to engage in learning.
“The provision of £49.75million in new funding to local authorities demonstrates our support for the health and wellbeing of children and young people and our commitment to reduce the impact of poverty on thousands of families across the country.”
Of the £ 49.75m identified, £ 21.75m will provide targeted free school meal support during school holidays in 2021/22, starting with the upcoming summer holiday.
The government estimates this will cover approximately 145,000 primary and secondary children from low- income households, with individual councils deciding whether the provision is in the form of direct payments, vouchers or food parcels.
Free school meals are a vital support to thousands of children and young people across the country