Free school meals up to Easter holidays for eligible pupils
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Eligible pupils across the Highland Council area will receive school meal vouchers for the festive break as well as for February and Easter holidays in 2021.
Councillor John Finlayson, chairman of Highland Council’s education committee, says the move will provide much-needed support to vulnerable families as the coronavirus crisis continues.
“We welcome the announcement by the cabinet secretary for social security, Shirley-Anne Somerville," Councillor Finlayson said.
"I am sure this will be of great relief to young people, parents and guardians and it builds on the support that has already been in place in Highland in recent times.”
A spokesman explained that the council is also exercising its discretion to issue vouchers retrospectively for the October holiday period, which has just ended.
Eligible applicants can redeem vouchers when doing their food shopping in supermarkets.
In the Highland Council area, P1-3 pupils who are entitled to the school clothing grant and P4-S6 pupils who are eligible for free school meals will each receive the equivalent of £3 a day which will be paid using the same voucher systems that were deployed during the summer months.
Parents and carers are being reminded to update their child’s school when they change their contact details in order to ensure they receive vouchers.
Parents and carers whose children are currently receiving free school meals (P4-S6) and school clothing grants (P1-3) are asked not to contact the council to enquire about payment dates.
Lower-income families who haven’t already claimed free school meals and school clothing grants are encouraged to do so as quickly as possible by contacting the council’s welfare support team by email at welfare.support@highland.gov.uk or by calling 0800 090 1004. All calls from landlines and mobiles are free.
Meanwhile, Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has welcomed a commitment from Highland Council to return all schools to a hot meal service.
In a letter to the MSP this week, the local authority confirmed more than 60 per cent of schools have gone back to serving hot meals already and it said all schools are expected to follow suit shortly.
It comes after Mrs Grant raised her concerns about the nutritional substance of school meals post-lockdown, with follow-up letters to the local authority’s chief executive Donna Manson and Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney.
She acted after parents contacted her complaining that a sandwich option, including fruit, a snack and a drink, had since the new term replaced the cooked canteen lunch in their children’s schools. A soup was also at times a side option.
Mrs Grant said: “These past few months must been really tough for our school leaders. Having to comprehend and ensure compliance with government guidance in order to keep our youngsters safe must have been a real battle.
"But it was troubling to hear children were being handed a sandwich and some side bits – but nothing cooked or wholly nutritious – for their lunch. For many, that school dinner is their only cooked meal of the day. I’m so glad Highland Council is moving swiftly towards serving hot food in all schools again. I’m sure many parents will also be welcoming this move.”
