AN EXPANSION of the free school meals programme has been agreed across Clackmannanshire.

Wee County councillors voted to extend the initiative to cover children who are looked after at home and children in kinship care. 

Around 25 per cent of pupils – 1,700 children – are entitled to free meals under the basic Scottish Government model; however, last Thursday, the council backed a proposal to widen the criteria.

These are children who live at home with family, but receive regular visits from social workers or are in the care of family members because they can't remain with their birth parents. 

It is estimated that the move will make approximately 134 additional students eligible for free meals.

Speaking after the decision, Cllr Graham Lindsay, the council's education spokesperson, said: "We are determined to help as many of our families as we can and this extra provision also aligns with our commitment to keep The Promise and tackle poverty.

"I am delighted that our provision of entitlement to free school meals provision has been extended in this way which will be a welcome boost to our care experienced community."

The Scottish Government sets out basic eligibility criteria for free school meals across all local authorities.  

Parents are generally eligible for free meals if they qualify for various types of income support and universal credit.

However, children who are looked after at home, or in kinship care do not automatically qualify.

Ellen Forson, council leader, said: "I don't make apologies for this proposal because I think it's important for so many different reasons.

"Clackmannanshire has higher levels of looked after children than most other authorities.

"I think this small-in-the-grand-scheme-of-things investment goes a long way to improving care for young people.

"Free school meals might be the difference between someone deciding whether or not to be a kinship carer." 

Clrr Jane McTaggart added: "If we can encourage just one kinship carer – one child to remain in the body of the family – through this very small spend in the grand scheme of things, I'm definitely in favour." 

The estimated cost of expanding the free school meal programme for these children is £30,200 for the current year. 

Clacks Council agreed to cover the cost using money from the balance of Covid recovery funds.

In the future, it will need to consider the costs as part of the annual budget to maintain the policy.