Free School Meals Holiday Support

Dundee families most in need could be given increased holiday support through a free school meal cash boost.

Councillors are being asked to change eligibility criteria for free school meal holiday support to now include P4 & P5 pupils of families who receive the school clothing grant.

They are also being recommended to increase the value of free school meal holiday support payments for eligible P1-S6 pupils from £.2.25 a day to £2.40 a day for 64 days of school holidays.

The current system sees free school meal holiday support paid to those families with P1-3 pupils in receipt of the school clothing grant at £2.25 per day, with those in P4-S6 eligible on the basis of low income at the same rate.

A report to the City Governance Committee outlines how expanding the criteria to those families who receive a school clothing grant in P4 & P5 supports those families most financially vulnerable, while the increase in the daily free school meal holiday support payment supports all families in receipt of free school meals.

Children and families convener Councillor Stewart Hunter said: "We have looked long and hard at the eligibility criteria and this change will allow us to support families who need it most during these very difficult times. 

“Although the sums per child may seem small, this will all add up for the most vulnerable during holidays when children are away from school. 

Fairness and Wellbeing spokesperson Councillor Siobhan Tolland added: At the start of summer, the council considered a report detailing the size of our task in tackling child poverty across Dundee. We are determined to take all the action we can through a range of measures to ensure that those in need of support can get it.” 

The cost of providing free school meal holiday support to 5,747 children at £2.40 per day for 64 days in P1 – S6 based on those families in receipt of a low income is £882, 739 – which would be covered by Scottish Government funding. 

Dundee City Council’s City Governance Committee will meet on Monday August 21 to discuss the proposals.                                                            

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