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West Dunbartonshire Council considers cold school meals on Fridays | West Dunbartonshire Council considers cold school meals on Fridays |
(about 11 hours later) | |
West Dunbartonshire Council is to consider a proposal to scrap hot school dinners on Fridays to help save money. | West Dunbartonshire Council is to consider a proposal to scrap hot school dinners on Fridays to help save money. |
The move, which could save £258,000 annually, would see pupils offered a sandwich with salad and fruit instead. | The move, which could save £258,000 annually, would see pupils offered a sandwich with salad and fruit instead. |
The proposal, which would also offer one hot meal choice on other days, is among savings options that councillors will consider next month. | The proposal, which would also offer one hot meal choice on other days, is among savings options that councillors will consider next month. |
On Monday, free school meal entitlement was extended to all P1-P3 pupils in Scotland regardless of parental income. | On Monday, free school meal entitlement was extended to all P1-P3 pupils in Scotland regardless of parental income. |
Labour-run West Dunbartonshire Council is looking to make £17m of savings over the next three years. | Labour-run West Dunbartonshire Council is looking to make £17m of savings over the next three years. |
The suggestion by officials is that, on Fridays, children would be offered a sandwich meal which would include salad and fruit. | The suggestion by officials is that, on Fridays, children would be offered a sandwich meal which would include salad and fruit. |
This would save money as catering staff would only be working four days a week instead of five. | This would save money as catering staff would only be working four days a week instead of five. |
"Inadequate" settlement | |
On other days, children would no longer be offered a choice of hot meal - just one would be available to them. | On other days, children would no longer be offered a choice of hot meal - just one would be available to them. |
The meal would include salad, fresh fruit, bread and water. | The meal would include salad, fresh fruit, bread and water. |
The council also proposes replacing milk at lunchtime with water four days a week and diluting juice on the other day. | The council also proposes replacing milk at lunchtime with water four days a week and diluting juice on the other day. |
It would also end breakfast clubs in primary schools. | It would also end breakfast clubs in primary schools. |
West Dunbartonshire Council said it currently exceeded its statutory requirements on school meals. | West Dunbartonshire Council said it currently exceeded its statutory requirements on school meals. |
A spokesman said the council was forced to look at these options due to the "inadequate budget settlement" made by the Scottish government. | |
He said the council had called on the government to provide further funds and allow it to raise council tax charges. | |
The Scottish government expects to spend £95m over the next two years helping councils provide free meals for all children in P1, 2 and 3. | The Scottish government expects to spend £95m over the next two years helping councils provide free meals for all children in P1, 2 and 3. |
The initiative was launched by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at her old primary school in North Ayrshire on Monday. | The initiative was launched by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at her old primary school in North Ayrshire on Monday. |
Although councils have been given extra money by the government to extend free meals, the money has not been ring-fenced so each one can decide just how much to actually spend. | Although councils have been given extra money by the government to extend free meals, the money has not been ring-fenced so each one can decide just how much to actually spend. |
The policy is supported by unions, anti-poverty campaigners and the Church of Scotland, but some sceptics have questioned whether extending free meals to all children is really the best use of resources. | The policy is supported by unions, anti-poverty campaigners and the Church of Scotland, but some sceptics have questioned whether extending free meals to all children is really the best use of resources. |
Classroom time | Classroom time |
Labour's education spokesman Iain Gray said on Monday that while extending free meals was "no bad thing", better off families would be celebrating the saving. | Labour's education spokesman Iain Gray said on Monday that while extending free meals was "no bad thing", better off families would be celebrating the saving. |
Of the £17m that West Dunbartonshire Council aims to save by 2018, about £9m will be introduced in the next financial year which starts this April. The rest would follow later. | Of the £17m that West Dunbartonshire Council aims to save by 2018, about £9m will be introduced in the next financial year which starts this April. The rest would follow later. |
Other options for savings in the education budget, echo proposals made by other local authorities. | Other options for savings in the education budget, echo proposals made by other local authorities. |
One is to reduce the amount of time primary school pupils spend in class each week from 25 hours to 22.5 hours, saving around £1m annually. | One is to reduce the amount of time primary school pupils spend in class each week from 25 hours to 22.5 hours, saving around £1m annually. |
Another would see some secondary pupils study different subjects on different school campuses, saving £80,000. | Another would see some secondary pupils study different subjects on different school campuses, saving £80,000. |
A public consultation on the savings options runs until the end of next week. | A public consultation on the savings options runs until the end of next week. |