PRIMARY five pupils in Dumbarton and the Vale will be eligible to receive a free school meal from January.

The scheme is part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to expand free school dinners to all primary students by Autumn 2022.

Convener of educational services Councillor Karen Conaghan said: “We are fully committed to the health of our young people and recognise the importance a healthy diet plays in a child’s development.

READ MORE: Virtual visits to GP 'here to stay' in West Dunbartonshire

“This will be a great financial help to our families and I’m pleased this is being rolled out in January when money is tight for everyone following on from Christmas.

“Our school catering teams have been preparing for this initiative being implemented for a number of months.”

The new initiative being launched in West Dunbartonshire on the first day of the new term - Wednesday, January 5y - entitles children in P5 to a freshly prepared, nutritionally balanced lunch every day at no cost.

Children in P1-4 already benefit from free school meals, regardless of their family income.

The further expansion to include P5 pupils, funded by the Scottish Government, has been welcomed by parents, who could save £484.50 a year.

Vice convener of educational services Councillor Ian Dickson added: “The extension of free school meals to all children in P5 is a very welcome development.

“Our catering staff do a fantastic job of cooking and serving healthy and nutritious meals to our school pupils and many more young people will now benefit from that service.

“We know children learn better when they’re not hungry and by introducing this to all P5 in addition to the P1-4 children we will be helping thousands of families across West Dunbartonshire.”

The council received the bronze ‘Food for Life Served Here’ award for serving freshly made school meals from Scottish/UK ingredients.

Copies of the school meal menus are available to parents and carers on the council’s website.