Issue - meetings

(i)       note that officers would share any update on discussions with the Scottish Government about the expansion of free school meals to eligible S1 to S3 pupils to Members via email outwith the meeting, and to request that officers discuss with the Scottish Government how to successfully follow on from the test of change to ensure there was no drop off once the test of change ended;

(ii)       note the progress in Free School Meal provision and actions to continue

increasing uptakes;

(iii)      note the Scottish Government’s decision to stop data collection via the annual Healthy Living Survey, and the move to collecting data on school meal uptakes and free school meals registrations via the Local Financial Return;

(iv)      note the successful implementation of the Pre-order app in Secondary Schools and the positive impact it has had on both customer numbers and Revenue; and

(v)      agree the pilot scheme to expand free school meals to pupils in S1 to S3 whose families are in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment is to be welcomed.

The Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director Families and Communities which presented an annual update on Free School Meals.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the progress in Free School Meal provision and actions to continue

increasing uptakes;

(b)      note the Scottish Government’s decision to stop data collection via the annual Healthy Living Survey, and the move to collecting data on school meal uptakes and free school meals registrations via the Local Financial Return;

(c)      note the successful implementation of the Pre-order app in Secondary Schools and the positive impact it has had on both customer numbers and Revenue; and

(d)      agree the pilot scheme to expand free school meals to pupils in S1 to S3 whose families were in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment was to be welcomed.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       note that officers would share any update on discussions with the Scottish Government about the expansion of free school meals to eligible S1 to S3 pupils to Members via email outwith the meeting, and to request that officers discuss with the Scottish Government how to successfully follow on from the test of change to ensure there was no drop off once the test of change ended; and

(ii)       to approve the recommendations.