In line with the increase to charges that was approved by Members at the 2024-2025 Council budget meeting on Thursday 29th February 2024, the cost of a traditional school meal for the new financial year, effective from Monday 15th April is as follows:-

Primary School Meals –                Increase from £2.30 to £2.40 per 2 course meal – this will apply to pupils in P6 & P7 until the full roll out of universal free school meals is agreed by the Scottish Government.

Free School Meals 

All children in Early Years and Primaries 1 to 5 receive free school meals. For children in Primaries 6 and 7 the cost of a meal is £2.40.

Should you wish to apply for Free School Meals and/or a clothing grant please visit ;

Free school meals and assistance with clothing | Free school meals and assistance with clothing | The Highland Council 

Free School Meals/Clothing Grant

All P1-5 children receive Free School Meals, however, the Clothing Grant entitlement is not automatically allocated unless the relevant paperwork is completed.  Therefore, I urge all parents, and especially P1-5 parents, to look at the link below and complete the paperwork if you think you are entitled. 

To receive free school meals and assistance with school clothing, your household must be in receipt of any one of the following:

• Income Support

• Universal Credit (where the monthly earned income does not exceed £726).

• Income-based Job Seekers Allowance

• Any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance

• Child Tax Credit, but not in receipt of Working Tax Credit, and your income is less than £18,725 (as assessed by the HMRC)

• Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit and an income below £8,717 (as assessed by the HMRC)

• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• Pension Credit Guaranteed Credit

You can also apply:

• If you are 16 to 18 yrs old and receive any of these benefits in your own right

• If you have no recourse to public funds, normally due to immigration status

https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/899/schools_-_grants_and_benefits/10/free_school_meals_and_assistance_with_clothing

If you are on Universal Credit, we require evidence of your current award, showing:

• Name

• Address

• Period Payment covers

• We require to see ALL the elements which make up the award and all the deductions, including any for take home pay

• For all other Benefits we require ALL pages of your current award letter

Current recipients of means tested clothing grant and free school meals only need to reapply if any of the following have occurred since your most recent Clothing Grant Payment

• Change of address

• Change of bank details

• Any new P1 children for August 2023

If you have a child in Secondary School  S5 / 6 who will be returning to school after the summer holidays, you will not receive your clothing grant payment until the school confirm their return to school.  

The School Clothing Grant is £154 for Primary School children and £165 for High School children. Our online application form asks you to provide your bank details to allow us to make payment. If you are unable to provide bank details please contact us by email at clothingandmeals@highland.gov.uk.

If you have questions relating to the Free School Meals and Clothing assistance scheme, please contact us by email at clothingandmeals@highland.gov.uk.

Special Diet and Nutrition

If your child requires a special diet for school meals, further information is available at;

Special diet and nutrition | School meals | The Highland Council