Scottish Government delay P6 and P7 universal free school meals

The Scottish Government are delaying universal free school meals provision for P6 and P7 pupils.

Chair of the Council’s Education, Leisure and Housing Committee, Councillor Gwenda Shearer, said: “The further expansion of free school lunches during term-time to include children in P6 and 7 will not begin in August as had been intended which is disappointing particularly given we are in the midst of a cost of living crisis.

“I know that some families have already expressed dismay at this decision as they fall just outwith the eligibility criteria and will have to either pay £2.70 for a two-course school meal for primary pupils and £2.80 for secondary pupils or provide a packed lunch.

“These are failed promises by the Scottish Government to some who are just over the threshold for qualifying and who say they are struggling to make ends meet.

“It is so important for our children and young people to have a healthy and wholesome meal at lunchtime to help with onward learning but, for some, the awful reality is that a school lunch may be their only hot meal of the day.”

Councillor Shearer stressed the importance of those who are entitled to a free school meal and the associated benefits this could bring to fill in the claim form given schools return on Tuesday 16 August.

She said: “More families than ever before in Orkney are benefiting from free school meals and the linked school clothing allowance – however, I would urge anyone who may still be missing out to check to see whether or not they are eligible.”

Children attending nursery for full days and children in P1-P5 are automatically entitled to receive free school meals.

The Scottish Government and Council Leaders have agreed to increase the clothing grant to £150 for an eligible secondary student and £120 for an eligible primary school pupil.

Over the past academic year, the OIC has paid 283 free school meal and clothing grants - with 184 and 99 pupils benefiting in primary and secondary schools respectively.

Families may also be eligible for school meal payments during the holiday periods.

The Council’s 2022/2023 applications for both allowances are open and can be applied for via the Council website's School Benefit page.

For anyone who is unable to access the online application form they can call 01856 873535 and a paper copy form will be posted to them. Anyone having difficulty filling out the forms should contact the Council Offices and ask for Heather Manson on 01856 873535 extension 2416.

Applications require to be made every year.

Councillor Shearer added: “We would also urge families to apply as it also has a knock-on beneficial effect for school budgets. For schools, some of the direct funding (Pupil Equity Fund) is determined by free meal numbers, so in effect schools’ budgets are in effect ‘harmed’ by low numbers of uptake.

“At the heart of this are families who are entitled, and we want to ensure you can access those benefits. We have had families apply not sure at all that they would be eligible only to discover they were and have received not only free school meals and the clothing allowance but £130 per child in cash payments as a result of special Covid-related grants at October and Christmas. By applying now, it may open up further pandemic support grants to them.”

Pupils are eligible if their families receive any of the following benefits or support:

• Income Support.
• Income-based Job Seekers’ Allowance.
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
• Universal Credit where the monthly earned income does not exceed £660
• Child Tax Credit only – income must be under £17,005
• Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit – income must be under £7,920
• Support under Part VI of Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

Further information is available here on the Council website's School Meals and Clothing Allowances page.