By Linda Howard
Copyright dailyrecord
Families across Scotland are being urged to check their eligibility for free school meal support during the new term time, which can also help with lunches during the upcoming holidays. Households normally eligible for free school meals during term time automatically receive payments of £2.50 or £4.80 per day, per child, during the holidays , depending on the child’s age and where they live. The number of eligible children taking up the offer of a free school meal has increased for the second year running, according to the latest statistics . More than two thirds of those eligible (67.7%) were able to benefit from a balanced and nutritious meal as part of their school day in 2023/24, up over three percentage points on the previous year (64.3%). In August 2025, the free school meals programme was extended to 6,000 high school students in S1 to S3, backed by £3 million from the Scottish Government. This trial phase is for those in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment who attend selected schools in eight local authority areas, and takes the number of pupils being offered free school meals in Scotland to over 360,000. This applies to eligible pupils living in: Cabinet Secretary for Education, Jenny Gilruth said: “We know how important it is for children to have access to a healthy meal during the day, and the role that nutrition plays in supporting their ability to concentrate, thrive and learn. “It’s promising to see the number of pupils benefiting from a free school meal increase for the second year in a row, though it perhaps also reflects the pressures that families are experiencing, particularly in relation to food costs. “That is why providing and expanding free school meals remains a crucial element of the Scottish Government’s commitment to eradicate child poverty and I would encourage all families who are eligible for free school meals to take up the offer available to them.” To qualify, people must be in receipt of one of the following benefits: People who are not currently eligible but start receiving one of the above benefits during the summer holidays can apply for the extra support immediately. Applications can be made through councils or online at mygov.scot. Those unable to fill out the application can contact the team at advice.scot for help, over the phone or online. The form takes around 20 minutes to complete. Applicants will need the dates of birth of any children they have, their partner’s details if applicable, and their bank details. Advice.scot provides free, practical advice and information on any topic, including access to benefits and whether households are claiming all the support they are entitled to. The team can be contacted on 0808 800 9060, Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm. Scottish Child Payment is unique to Scotland and provides financial support for families, helping with the costs of caring for a child. It is a weekly payment, currently worth £27.15 (£108.60 every four-week pay period), for every eligible child that a parent or carer looks after who’s under 16 years of age. Social Security Scotland recently revealed that there are around one in 10 families who might be eligible for the payment but not claiming it. Combined with Child Benefit payments from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), parents could be due up to £212.80 every month in additional support.
