Summer support to continue for free school meals
Free school meals for eligible children will continue over the school summer holidays.
All children entitled to free school meals will be able to receive a packed lunch or pick up a takeaway hot meal, and a breakfast bar/cereal at seven secondary schools and 34 primary schools in West Lothian.
An additional five primary schools will continue to distribute packed lunches only and delivery arrangements will continue for vulnerable children.
The council will spend over £520,000 on school meal provision over the summer period.
The council is also providing a £10 payment per child, per week to support families eligible for free school meals. By the end of June, the council will have made payments totalling over £464,000 and a further £348,000 will be invested to ensure the payments continue over the summer holidays. The council will also continue to provide financial support to the consortium of West Lothian based foodbanks and other voluntary groups which are assisting the council through the West Lothian Food Fund programme.
David Dodds, Executive councillor for Education said: "I'm very pleased that we are able to support children and their parents over the holiday period. It is incredibly important that those entitled to free school meals have access to nutritious food. The additional payment of £10 is also helping to support families, many of whom are facing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19."
