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Free school meals
25/03/2008
Children across Fife will continue to get free, nutritious school meals until the end of the school year, it was announced today.
The Scottish Government is extending the trial of free school meals for all primary one to three pupils in five council areas until the summer holidays.
Visiting St Columba's Primary School in Cupar to see the impact of the initative first-hand, Children's Minister Adam Ingram said:
"Good, healthy, nutritious food - that's what our children need to get them through the school day.
"We are now well into our free school meal trials and I'm delighted to announce that we are extending the scheme until the end of the school year.
"But it's not just about changing eating habits in schools. What our children eat out of school is just as important and I'm sure that many families are already seeing the direct benefits this programme provides.
"We will use the information gathered in this trial to see whether the provision of free meals is having a positive impact both in schools and in the home.
"We will then be in a position to say how and when many more children in Scotland will be able to benefit from the free, healthy and nutritious lunches currently enjoyed by children in Fife."
More than 35,000 pupils are benefiting from the free school meal trials which are underway in the Borders, Fife, Glasgow, East Ayrshire and West Dunbartonshire.
Around £5 million has been committed to the trials so far. The scheme was due to finish at the end of March but will now continue until the end of the school year.
Ministers will closely evaluate the pilots for evidence on:
- Changes in attitudes and behaviours by children and parents to school meals and healthy eating
- Eating habits - in school and at home
- Pupils' views on healthy school meals
- Practical issues for schools
- Development of social skills as children eat together
If the evaluation of the trial is positive, the Scottish Government has ageed in its Concordat with local government that all primary one to three pupils in Scotland will be entitled to free school meals.