Free school meals

 

The Education (Scotland) Act 1980 as amended gives the education authority:

  • Powers to provide milk, meals or other refreshment for pupils at its schools;
  • A duty to provide them free of charge to pupils whose parents are in receipt of Income Support, Employment & Support Allowance - Income Related or Income-based Jobseekers' Allowance (qualifying benefits);
  • a duty to accommodate the consumption of packed lunches.

It is Council policy to provide meals (and milk in the case of nursery & primary pupils) for all who wish to take them.

Free School Meals

Pupils with parents in receipt of either:

  • Income Support
  • Income-Based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • Employment & Support Allowance - Income related
  • Child Tax Credit (with no working tax credit) and whose annual income is £16,190 or less
  • Working Tax Credit and whose annual income is £6,420 or less

are entitled to a free mid-day meal

Free mid-day meals are also provided, regardless of the above entitlement, to all pupils at Cedarbank, Beatlie and Pinewood Schools. No application from a parent is necessary.

Free School Milk

All pupils of nursery schools and classes, all P1-3 pupils, P4-7 pupils whose parents are in receipt of a qualifying benefit and all pupils at Cedarbank, Beatlie and Pinewood Schools where consumption of the milk is part of the educational programme as agreed with Psychological Services, are entitled to 0.25 litre of milk daily free of charge. 

For more information on school meals and milk please see the School Meals and Milk Policy under 'Online Tools' on the right.   An application form for Free School Meals (and Milk where applicable) is also available on the right.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click a question to see the answer.

Can I have my Free School Meals entitlement backdated?

No, free school meals entitlement is granted from the date the application is processed. However, if valid proof of receipt of a qualifying benefit can be presented with your free school meals application to the school, entitlement can start immediately.

For how long will my child receive free school meals?

Subject to parents continuing to be in receipt of qualifying benefits, children attending school will receive free school meals from primary 1 to sixth year at secondary school.

How will the school know my child is eligible for Free School Meals?

If you qualify for free school meals we will write to the school to inform them of this. Meals will be provided from the first day of the school year for applications submitted during the summer break. For applications received after school commences, meals will be provided as soon as possible. Schools will be constantly updated during the year with new applications that have been granted.

I get Working Tax Credit. Can I get free meals for my child/children?

You can get free meals for your child/children if you are in receipt of Income Support, Income Based Job Seekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance - Income Related, Child Tax Credit with an annual income of £16,190 or less, or Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit with an annual income of less than £6,420.

I want to apply for free school meals for my three children. Do I need to complete an application form for each child?

No, there is space to apply for free school meals for five children on the application form.

The secondary school that my child/children attend operates a swipe card system. How do they get their free meal?

Your child's card will be credited with the cost of a free meal per day. This is put on their card after the morning break.

Online Tools

Contact details