Improving food in schools
Since 2003, school lunches in Scotland have undergone a transformation starting with the Hungry for Success initiative. 
The Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007 and the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2008 build on the achievements of Hungry for Success by establishing standards for all food and drink in schools.
The focus is on getting the balance right and helping pupils make informed choices. A wide range of appealing healthy food and drink are promoted through marketing, education and active encouragement. The Government hopes that children and young people will be more inclined to opt for healthier choices, not only in school but also outside school.
An important aspect of this work has been extensive consultation, especially with the pupils themselves. Food manufacturers and the food industry have also been approached and changes have been made in developing products which comply with the new healthier standards.
Free School Lunches
Access to free school lunches is an important part of the school lunch service in Scotland. It is important that pupils entitled to free school lunches get them without fear of stigmatisation. They should not be made to feel different from those who pay nor be readily identified by others. Local authorities should work to promote increased uptake of free school meals amongst those currently eligible.
Who is eligible for free school lunches?
You can claim free school lunches for your children if you are receiving:
- Income Support (IS)
- Income-based Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA)
- Any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance
- Child Tax Credit (CTC), but not Working Tax Credit, and your income is less than £15,860 (with effect from April 6, 2011).
- Both maximum child tax credit and maximum working tax credit and your income is under £6420 (with effect from April 6, 2011).
If you are between 16 and 18 years old and receive any of these benefits in your own right, you can claim free school lunches for yourself.
You may also be eligible if you are an asylum seeker receiving support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Contribution based job seekers allowance is not an eligible criteria for free school meals.
For more information on Child Tax Credit and Working Tax credit visit the Inland Revenue website.
Local Authorities recently received a letter reminding them of the current eligibility criteria for free school meals and advising them that the annual income thresholds determining entitlement to free school meals would increase with effect from April 6, 2011.
Local Initiatives
Following the positive evaluation of the free school lunches trial carried out in 2007/08, legislation was passed in November 2008 to enable local authorities to provide free school lunches to all P1-3 pupils from August 2010. Local authorities also have a power to provide food and drink at school free of charge at any point of the school day with the exception of lunch time. In an effort to ensure that children and young people get access to healthy nutritious food at school, some local authorities and schools provide free fruit, breakfasts or other free school meals to children and young people. For more information about local initiatives available in your area, you should contact your local authority.
Working Group on Free School Meals and Clothing Grant Provision
A report on Local Authority procedures for identifying and registering children eligible for free school meals highlighted some of the potential barriers to registering for free school meals was published. A short life working group met 6 times in 2008 to consider the recommendations which were included in the report. In addition, the working group also reviewed school clothing grant provision across Scotland.