Free school meals: equality impact assessment

Equality impact assessment on a policy change of free school meals in primaries 6 and 7 changing from universal availability to availability for families in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment.


Key Findings

The provision of free school meals to children and young people from primary 6 onwards is predominantly a policy focussed upon tackling poverty.

The following protected characteristics have been considered when preparing this Equality Impact Assessment and we do not expect any negative impact from this policy action:

  • Age

Though the schools provisions in Part 6 of the Equality Act 2010 do not apply to the protected characteristic of age we have considered this area as it is clear that a specific school age group is impacted by this policy approach.

The Scottish Government has had a phased approach to the implementation of the expansion of free school meals programme as this was considered to be an appropriate approach which would ensure children were supported at key stages of their development. Phased delivery also allowed for infrastructure planning in local authorities and funding to support both infrastructure planning and provision to be identified.

Phased delivery started in 2016 with the roll out to primaries 1-3 on a universal basis. Universal provision was offered to those in primary 4 and primary 5 along with Special Schools, in 2021 and 2022 respectively. The ultimate phase would be universal provision to those in primary 6 and 7. The policy decision to delay roll out of universal provision to primary 6 and 7 pupils is mitigated by an interim approach to provide free school meals to those in primary 6 and 7 whose families are in receipt of Scottish Child Payment. There is also no intention to alter eligibility to access FSM arising from eligibility criteria related to financial circumstances and therefore support to families via this route will remain in place.

Because there has not yet been delivery of free school meals to primary 6 and 7 pupils on a universal basis, there is no impact to them as a result of the delay to implementation of the policy approach. However, it is acknowledged that the intended positive impact of this expansion will not currently be achieved. Therefore the overall assessment of this policy impact is neutral.

  • Disability

The Poverty and Inequality Statistics Report, covering the period 2020-23, noted there was a higher proportion of households in relative poverty after housing costs, with a disabled person in the household (24%) in comparison to households with no disabled persons (18%): Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland 2020-23 (data.gov.scot).

Furthermore, when disability related benefits are not included in the household income the relative poverty rate after housing costs becomes 28% for households with a disabled person, compared to 17% for households with no disabled persons.

Families with a disabled person are one of the six priority family types identified as being at higher risk of child poverty. Further evidence in relation to this characteristic is available from Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland 2020-23.

Though disabilities may impact on the ability of a parent/carer to work this would not be a barrier to any child or young person from being able to benefit from free school meal entitlement via eligibility criteria. In addition, disabilities do not form any part of entitlement criteria for free school meal provision. Therefore the impact of this policy decision on disabled pupils is considered to be neutral.

  • Gender

The Poverty and Inequality Statistics Report, covering the period 2020-23, noted the relative poverty rate after housing costs was highest amongst single men with no children - with a relative poverty rate of 33%: Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland 2020-23 (data.gov.scot). The relative poverty rate amongst single mothers and single women with no children was lower at 29% for both demographics. In addition, the relative poverty rates amongst married and co-habiting adults was lower still at 15% and 16% respectively. Poverty rates over the period 2020-23, after housing costs, were 30% among all single adults and 28% among divorced or separated adults.

Gender is not a barrier to any child or young person to accessing free school meals. In addition, gender plays no part in any eligibility criteria associated with free school meals, therefore the impact is assessed as neutral in relation to this protected characteristic.

  • Sexual orientation

The Poverty and Inequality Statistics Report, covering the period 2020-23, noted the relative poverty rate was higher amongst LGB+ adults (25%) than among straight/heterosexual adults (19%), or those whose sexual orientation was unknown (21%) (although the latter category also includes those who chose not to answer the question): Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland 2020-23 (data.gov.scot)[2].

Sexual orientation is not a barrier to any child or young person to accessing free school meals as a result of eligibility criteria. In addition, sexual orientation plays no part in any eligibility criteria associated with free school meals, therefore the impact of this change in policy is assessed as neutral in relation to sexual orientation.

  • Ethnicity

The Poverty and Inequality Statistics Report, covering the period 2020-23, noted people from minority ethnic (non-white) groups were more likely to be in relative poverty after housing costs compared to those from the White - British or White - Other groups: Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland 2020-23 (data.gov.scot).

The relative poverty rate was 51% amongst 'Mixed, Black or Black British and Other' ethnic groups, and 50% amongst the 'Asian or Asian British' ethnic group. However the poverty rate amongst the 'White - Other' group (22%) was also higher than that of the 'White - British' group (18%).

It is also worth noting the median age for the highest income earner was 55 among the 'White - British' group, compared to 39 among 'Asian or Asian - British'; 38 for 'White - Other'; and 36 for 'Mixed, Black, Black British or Other' ethnic groups.

The poverty rate among older adults is lower, which may partly explain the lower poverty rate among the 'White - British' group. However, this age difference cannot explain the entire gap in poverty rates between ethnic groups.

Ethnicity is not a barrier to any child or young person to accessing free school meals. In addition, ethnicity plays no part in any eligibility criteria associated with free school meals. In terms of ethnicity, the impact of this policy is considered to be neutral.

  • Religion and belief

The Poverty and Inequality Statistics Report, covering the period 2020-23, noted, 61% of people who identified their religion as Muslim were living in relative poverty after housing costs: Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland 2020-23 (data.gov.scot).

Those who identify their religion as Church of Scotland had a lower relative poverty rate after housing costs (16%) than found for all individuals.

The relative poverty rate, after housing costs, for those identifying their religion as Roman Catholic was 17% and those identifying with no religion was 18%.

The relative poverty rate, after housing costs, for those identifying with other Christian denominations was 21% and whilst the figure for those identifying with other religions was 31%.

Differences in the age profiles between the various religions should be noted. The median average age for those identifying as Muslim was 36, in comparison to 64 for those affiliated to the Church of Scotland. The average median age for those identifying with no religion was 42.

Whilst the poverty rate among older adults is lower, which may partly explain the lower poverty rate among those affiliated to the Church of Scotland, the age difference cannot explain the entire gap in poverty rates between different religious groups.

While information is collected on the number of pupils who learn within a denominational school in Scotland there is no information collected on the religion or belief of pupils in Scotland. However, religion or belief is not a barrier to a child or young person accessing free school meals provision nor does it form any part of eligibility criteria and therefore the impact of this policy is considered to be neutral.

  • Pregnancy and maternity, gender reassignment and marriage and civil partnership

There was limited information available in relation to the protected characteristic of pregnancy and maternity, gender reassignment and marriage and civil partnership.

None of these characteristics are a barrier to a child or young person accessing free school meals or are they an eligibility criteria to access free school meal entitlement. Consequently, the impact of this policy approach on these characteristics is considered neutral.

Contact

Email: stuart.pescodd@gov.scot

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