Expansion of Free School Meals

Thousands More Young People Benefitting

The SNP Scottish Government's free school meals programme is key in our national mission to eradicate child poverty, which saves families who take up the offer around £450 per eligible child per year.

At present, all children in primary 1 to 5, at schools run by their local council or funded by the Scottish Government, can get free school lunches during term-time. P6 and P7 pupils can currently access free school meals if their families get Scottish Child Payment, or any of a number of the other qualifying benefits which also entitle secondary school pupils to free meals.

A trial phase extending free schools meals to all S1 to S3 pupils in receipt of Scottish Child Payment is currently underway across selected schools, taking the number of pupils being offered free school meals in Scotland to over 360,000.

We know the positive impact that access to a healthy and nutritious meal can have on a pupil’s learning and achievement in school. This demonstrates how important the programme is in the SNP's efforts to close the poverty-related attainment gap in Scotland, ensuring that every child is given an opportunity to succeed in education regardless of their background.

Moreover, the SNP have also committed an additional £15 million in 2026-27 to expand breakfast club provision and help schools, councils and third sector partners prepare for the introduction of universal breakfast club services by August 2027. The plan is to then invest £44 million per year from 2027-28 to deliver the clubs for all primary and special school children in Scotland who want to access them.

Breakfast clubs not only give children a nutritious meal before school starts, they can also help improve school attendance and confidence in children, and the option of an early drop-off means parents have more flexibility so they can work or study. The SNP will remain focused on delivering the priorities of the people of Scotland, which means acting to provide help with the cost of living and doing all we can to eradicate child poverty.