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Free school meals 'for deprived' | Free school meals 'for deprived' |
(about 10 hours later) | |
The Scottish Executive has unveiled plans to provide free school meals to children living in some of the most deprived areas of the country. | The Scottish Executive has unveiled plans to provide free school meals to children living in some of the most deprived areas of the country. |
Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop has outlined a £5m pilot scheme to provide free meals for P1 to P3 pupils. | Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop has outlined a £5m pilot scheme to provide free meals for P1 to P3 pupils. |
The trials are set to begin in selected schools from October and will run until March 2008. | The trials are set to begin in selected schools from October and will run until March 2008. |
An estimated 17% of schoolchildren in Scotland receive free school meals while child poverty affects about 23%. | An estimated 17% of schoolchildren in Scotland receive free school meals while child poverty affects about 23%. |
Ms Hyslop said the pilot scheme was about addressing that discrepancy. | Ms Hyslop said the pilot scheme was about addressing that discrepancy. |
She said: "The pilot itself will bring its own short-term benefits in terms of health and nutrition for some of our poorest children. | She said: "The pilot itself will bring its own short-term benefits in terms of health and nutrition for some of our poorest children. |
By targeting our youngest pupils in the most deprived areas, we hope to make a big difference Fiona HyslopEducation Secretary | By targeting our youngest pupils in the most deprived areas, we hope to make a big difference Fiona HyslopEducation Secretary |
"The main aim is for our youngest children to develop a taste for healthy foods and the social skills that come from sitting down to eat with friends every day." | "The main aim is for our youngest children to develop a taste for healthy foods and the social skills that come from sitting down to eat with friends every day." |
The scheme will also examine the effect that universal provision of free nutritious school meals has on pupils' health. | The scheme will also examine the effect that universal provision of free nutritious school meals has on pupils' health. |
Ministers will look at the effect it has on eating habits in school and at home and on the pupils' views on school meals. | Ministers will look at the effect it has on eating habits in school and at home and on the pupils' views on school meals. |
The practical issues faced by schools, such as kitchen and dining hall capacity, along with the development of social skills will also be assessed. | The practical issues faced by schools, such as kitchen and dining hall capacity, along with the development of social skills will also be assessed. |
All children | |
John Dickie, head of the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, said the sooner a policy of universal free school meals, the better. | |
He said: "We already know from experience in Hull, and further afield in Finland, that universal provision has a dramatic effect on the take-up of healthy school meals and on pupils' concentration and behaviour, so the sooner the new Scottish government rolls out free school meals to all children the better. | |
"It is also vital that ministers ensure that targeting the initial pilots so narrowly does not undermine the potential value of a universal approach." | |
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