Moray Council has agreed to increase canteen staff at the region’s primary schools to help cope with a growing number of youngsters enjoying free lunches.
In January, the Scottish Government rolled out a scheme whereby all primary one to three pupils were entitled to school meals at no charge.
The programme has proven so popular in Moray that “stretched” staff members have battled to ensure all children were fed on time, and fears were raised that afternoon classes could be delayed.
The council’s corporate director of education and social care, Laurence Findlay, said schools “with the most mouths to feed and most bodies to supervise” were especially struggling.
Yesterday the local authority’s policy and resources committee approved £38,400 plans to recruit more workers to help during mealtimes, and to expand the hours of those already employed.
Elgin City South councillor Graham Leadbitter said the move would be especially welcomed by the region’s more densely populated primaries.
Mr Leadbitter said: “For schools like New Elgin Primary, which has a roll of about 550 pupils and is the largest primary school in Moray, there are pressures in supervising lunch hours.
“Since the introduction of the free meals scheme that has obviously increased further, and this change in policy will be good news for schools.”