The Scottish Government has extended the criteria for receiving free school meals, with Primary 4 and 5 pupils set to benefit.

Currently pupils from Primary 1-3 in Scotland can receive free school meals, however this is set to expand as the new term starts.

It comes as part of the Scottish Government's commitment to roll out universal free meals to all pupils from P1-7.

Here's everything you need to know about the plans and deadlines.

When will Primary 4 and 5 pupils in Scotland receive free school meals?

From the start of the new school term in mid August, all Primary 4 students will be eligible for free school meals. 

Free school meals will then be available to Primary 5 pupils in January, by which point around 90,000 children will be eligible across the country.

Meanwhile, low-income families will receive similar support throughout the summer holidays. 

The Government aims to offer Primary 6 and 7 pupils free meals by August 2022, describing them as "vital support" for "thousands of children and young people across the country."

Costing up to £28 million for 2021/22, the pledge aims to ensure that "children have access to a free, healthy and nutritious meal every day they are in school and are ready to engage in learning."

Will this be extended to high school pupils?

There are currently no plans to extend the universal free school meals to high school ages, however they are included in targeted school holiday support. 

A holiday package of £21.7 million is available for low income families of both primary and secondary age.

Councils will be in charge of designating this holiday support based on local needs, and could choose to provide direct payments, vouchers or food parcels. 

Meanwhile, the Green Party want the universal policy throughout the school term to be extended to include all high school students.