New Funding for Childcare & Free School Meals
Graeme has welcomed new funding from the Scottish Government for early years childcare and free school meals across Angus.
First Minister Humza Yousaf announced in the Programme for Government that the Scottish Government will significantly invest to expand the provision of both in this parliamentary year.
The funding will ensure that all primary school pupils receive a free school lunch ā a vital step to eradicating child poverty in Angus and across Scotland. This builds on existing measures that are already seeing all Primary 1 to 5 pupils receive free school meals currently.
There will also be an expansion of support available for early years childcare, to support more young parents in Angus to go back to work.
The First Minister made it a national mission of this Scottish Government to eradicate child poverty, and this new funding is a significant step towards that goal.
GRAEME
Expansion of both early years childcare and free school meals are flagship policies of the SNP in government, and are a hugely important part of poverty reduction efforts.
This investment will support those struggling across Angus amid the Tory cost-of-living crisis that is continuing to hit hard-up households.
I hope it will be warmly welcomed by parents here in Angus, who will be supported in both ensuring their children get the best start in life and in facilitating employment ā which is good for the wider economy and for our society.