Free meals will go on in school hols

Stirling Council is drawing up plans to provide free school meals over the summer.

The authority’s children and young people convener Councillor Susan McGill this week welcomed the announcement by Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon of additional funding saying it would allow the council to continue to support many families during the school holidays.

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, eligible families in the local authority area have continued to receive free school meals. From the end of March until May 10 alone 62,239 meal were delivered to children and young people.

However, the council’s chief finance officer Jim Boyle recently told councillors that, at the same time, there was none of the usual income from paid for school meals to help balance the costs.

The meeting heard that from March 23 packed lunches had been delivered to homes for all children from P4 to S6 who were entitled to free school meals and also to P1-3 children in receipt of the footwear and clothing grant.

Councillor McGill said this week: “We are living in the most unusual of times. It has been, and will continue to be very challenging for many families living within Stirling Council area as we slowly move forward towards recovery. We want to do all we can to assist those who are most in need. This additional funding will ensure we are able to continue to offer support throughout the summer holidays.

“During the lockdown, I have been amazed at the positive and supportive response by communities and Stirling Council staff. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to everyone who has been involved.”

Details of free school meal provision over summer in Stirling will be announced once plans have been finalised.

At the virtual council meeting, councillors also heard that education hubs established in Callander, Cowie, Dunblane, Killearn, Raploch, Castleview and St Ninians - for children with parents and carers working in essential roles as well as vulnerable children - had been access by around 360 children from 220 families.

Green councillor Alasdair Tollemache praised staff and the speed with which the hubs were established, but raised concerns that as people continued to be phased back into work childcare could become an issue for many people.

• Clackmannanshire Council’s Emergency Decision Making Forum (EDMF) has also agreed to extend its free school meal provision during the summer holidays.