Delay to free school meal extension ‘shameful’, EIS union says

As reported by the BBC, the decision to delay the rollout of free school meals to all primary pupils has been branded ‘shameful’ by the country’s biggest teaching union

The general secretary of the EIS union, Andrea Bradley, said it “runs contrary” to efforts to tackle child poverty.

She also accused the Scottish government of attempting to ‘obscure’ the move in its recent budget.

Ministers said Scotland had the ‘most generous universal provision’ of free school lunches in the UK.

So far this has only been delivered for youngsters in P1 to P5.

First minister Nicola Sturgeon said in September that the government would “start work with local authorities to extend universal provision to all pupils in primary six and seven”.

But the EIS said details in the Scottish budget showed that the universal rollout of free school meals for P6 and P7 will now be delayed until 2024.

Ms Bradley said: “Delaying the rollout of free school meals to all primary school children was a shameful decision, which runs contrary to the Scottish government’s stated commitment to tackling child poverty.”

She added: “This is now the second time that the rollout of this hugely important policy has been delayed, with serious consequences for thousands of children and families across Scotland.

“It is also extremely disappointing how this change in policy came to light – not announced in parliament, but obscured within the detail of the budget document itself.

“In a country where more than one child in four lives in poverty, and with the cost-of-living crisis pushing ever more families into financial difficulty, it is more important than ever that universal free school meals should be a priority.”

The union chief said that while a ‘watered-down, means-tested policy’ on free school meals is being introduced for youngsters in the final two years of primary school, many children could still miss out amid a cost of living crisis.

She continued: “Universal free meals remain the best way to ensure that all young people have access to a healthy and nutritious meal at school, without any stigma being attached.”