NEARLY 1000 extra pupils are set to receive free school meals in Dumfries and Galloway from this month onwards.
But parents who are eligible are being encouraged to get signed up immediately so that their kids can benefit before the official launch date.
Dumfries and Galloway Council received a six-figure investment from the Scottish Government to offer free school meals to eligible youngsters in P6 and P7.
This region is one of only a few in Scotland to be able to do so.
A report produced for the council’s education committee next week reads: “Families of pupils that are in primary six and primary seven who are in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment can apply for free school meals which, if successful, will be applied immediately and not wait until Scottish Government’s launch date in February 2025.
“Parents/carers can apply for a free school meal using the online form via the council website.”
Even better news is that there will be a full rollout of free school meals for all pupils within the next year, according to the latest council report on free school meals.
It states: “The Scottish Government has indicated that the final expansion of free school meals for primary school children will be concluded within this Parliamentary Term (next election is due no later than May 7, 2026).”
Meanwhile, the overall uptake of free school meals for pupils is on the increase in Dumfries and Galloway.
A report for councillors states: “All primary 1-5 children are currently entitled to receive a universal free school meal.
“Information received from the 2024 Healthy Living Survey data reported an 87.4 percent uptake relating to Dumfries and Galloway free school meals – a 4.1 percent increase on last year’s figures.”
This free school meals uptake figure is considerably higher than the Scottish average of 72.4 percent, and places Dumfries and Galloway as the fourth highest in Scotland.
The positive trajectory is similar when it comes to secondary schools locally, with a 63.7 percent uptake.
