Question reference: S5W-34197
- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 21 December 2020
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Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 24 December 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of early years centres in each local authority area provide free meals, also broken down by (i) how many and (ii) what percentage of eligible children take up the offer.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold data on the number of children eligible for free school meals in early learning and childcare (ELC) settings, or on the uptake of the offer of free school meals for those children. This information would be held at local authority level.
The Scottish Government’s expansion to 1140 funded hours of ELC will introduce a universal entitlement to a free meal for all children as part of the ELC day. This will not be based on any eligibility criteria beyond the child being eligible for funded ELC (all 3 and 4 year olds and eligible 2 year olds).