Previously only primary school children whose parents were in receipt of income support, including income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and Universal Credit, were eligible for free school meals.
An extra 135,000 pupils across Scotland are expected to benefit from the expansion of the scheme, being funded by the Scottish Government at a cost of £95 million over two years.
It follows the move last September to make school meals free to all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 in England.
First minister Nicola Sturgeon said, ‘This is an exciting and historic day for Scottish education. It’s the beginning of a new year, a new school term and free school meals are now on the menu for all Primary 1 to 3s.
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