Families urged to check eligibility for holiday meal provision

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth has urged families to check their eligibility for free school meal support ahead of the summer break.

Local authorities support eligible families to access food during school holiday periods, including food vouchers and direct payments to families. The Scottish Government provides local councils with a total of £21.75 million annually to fund this provision.

Ms Gilruth said:

“Schools breaking up for summer provides families with opportunities to rest, enjoy quality time together and prepare for the academic year ahead, but we know the holiday periods can also be a time of increased financial pressure for families.

“Scotland is currently the only part of the UK with holiday free school meal provision, which is an important strand of our work towards eradicating child poverty. The Scottish Government provides more than £21 million annually to support local councils to continue free meal provision for those families that need it most.

“As we approach the summer break, I urge anyone who may have become newly eligible to check their eligibility status with their local authority and apply as soon as possible.”  

Background

Support in lieu of free school meals during school holidays is available to eligible families to help tackle child poverty and mitigate the Cost of Living crisis. 

Scotland is the only one of the four UK nations currently providing alternative free school meal provision for eligible families during school holiday periods.

Eligibility for holiday free school meals is based on low-income criteria for term time free school meals, as set out in legislation, and the existing approach taken by councils will not change. This support is available to all families who are eligible for free school meals on the basis of low income.  

Local authorities have the flexibility to put in place an approach that meet local needs and circumstances. Approaches could include the provision of direct payments, vouchers or food parcels. Most local authorities favour direct payments to families, aligning with best practice around cash-first approaches to tackling food poverty.