More dining staff could be taken on at Moray’s primary schools to cope with the growing number of youngsters taking up free lunches.
Councillors will be asked tomorrow to back a plan to boost canteen workers’ hours at schools across the region – or run the risk of delaying afternoon classes.
A national scheme to provide primary one to threes with free lunches has been met with huge demand locally since it was launched earlier this year.
But lunchtime supervisors, who specifically attend schools to help oversee canteens, have been placed under increasing strain since the move.
More than 77% of eligible pupils have taken advantage of the offer, with an average of 2,458 free meals being dished out daily.
Tomorrow, the council’s children and young people’s services committee will decide whether to progress a £36,200 plan to boost canteen workers’ hours.
A report will be presented to committee members outlining the risks if the plan is not approved.
It states: “If schools are not provided with additional support then there is a danger of children not being fed within allocated times, and so learning and teaching time will be encroached on.
“Young children in particular often require extra help at the servery, with staff taking their trays to tables and with clearing up.”
It adds: “It was anticipated that schools would meet the increases in demand through changes in operational practice – such as extra sittings, additional serveries and use of additional spaces.
“However, due to the popularity of the initiative, staff are struggling to serve, assist and clear up during allocated times.”
At the beginning of January, the Scottish Government offered all younger primary pupils entitlement to free school lunches.
Though funding was provided to help with the scheme, this has mostly been used to cover the costs of supplying extra dinners in Moray.
Lunchtime supervisors are allocated to schools according to how many pupils they have.
And under the plans, there will be increases in staff hours across the board.
If the committee backs the proposal it will then go before the council’s policy and resources committee for approval.
Councillors will also be asked to approve plans to use general purpose space for teaching in four of the region’s schools, while they undergo renovation.
Applegrove in Forres, Millbank in Buckie, Seafield in Elgin and St Gerardine in Lossiemouth are all currently being refurbished.
While work is ongoing in some classrooms, it is recommended the committee agrees to accommodate teaching in other areas of the schools.