Children entitled to free school meals will receive a £25 payment from East Ayrshire Council by Friday, January 15, to help cover food costs.

Food boxes will then be delivered to homes from Monday, January 18.

The council, with the support of the Scottish Government, has been able to continue to provide food to all children who are entitled to free school meals at home throughout periods of lockdown and school holidays, and this will continue.

All registered children who are entitled to free school meals will be given the £25 initial payment during the week of Monday, January 11, to Friday, January 15, and this will be paid directly into parents’ bank accounts.

The weekly food box, similar to the Christmas box, will then be provided to all children who are entitled to free school meals at home. This will include a range of fresh and grocery items to provide children with a variety of food for breakfast and lunch.

The home food boxes will only be provided to Primary 1– Primary 3 children that are registered for free school meals based on low income needs.

Where a child is in attendance at school, they will continue to receive their P1-P3 free meal.

Children who are entitled to free school meals and are attending school will not receive a weekly food box.

You can find out if your child is entitled to a free school meal by registering online or if you do not wish to receive a food box or you have moved address recently, complete the form on the East Ayrshire Council website.

Delivery days for the food boxes can also be viewed on the council website.