A school meal is the best deal!
Sophie, Oliver, Carmen, Arran and Lauren from Kilmarnock Academy, with Head of Campus David Rose, welcomed special guests from the Council to the William McIlvanney Campus for a fresh, sustainable school meal.
Councillor Elaine Cowan, Spokesperson for Education, and Children and Young People was joined for lunch by Cabinet Spokespersons Councillor Graham Barton and Councillor Neal Ingram, and Councillor Barry Douglas and Councillor Neill Watts; with Chris Walker, Food Services Manager.
They joined the queue with the young people to choose their meal, and this was a great opportunity to speak to them about school meals and to chat with Catering staff about the service they provide each day.
In East Ayrshire, all primary age school children have access to a free school meal. This was a strategic priority of the Council, with investment being committed from the Early Intervention and Prevention Fund for two years from August 2025.
It was important to the Council that young people in our secondary schools could also access affordable, fresh and sustainable school meals. A £1.25 school meal deal was introduced for young people who pay for their lunch and it includes - a main meal, a piece of fruit and a snack - which can be soup, a yogurt, a cookie or a second piece of fruit plus a 250ml carton of water.
Councillor Elaine Cowan said: "We received a really warm welcome from everyone at the William McIlvanney Campus. It was great to be invited not just to enjoy a school meal but also to have the opportunity to speak to the young people and the Catering Team, so that we can hear their thoughts and experiences at lunchtime first-hand."
Councillor Graham Barton, Spokesperson for Planning, Property and Environment said: “It was great to be invited to the William McIlvanney Campus and to enjoy a delicious school meal. The Catering Services team are focused on improving their service year on year and introducing products and food that the children and young people will enjoy. The new noodle bars are a great example of this; they were an incredibly popular choice.”
Councillor Neal Ingram, Spokesperson for Human Resources, Equalities and Inclusion said: "The Joseph Rowntree Foundation released their latest research recently which highlights the vital role of local government in helping people out of poverty.
“In 2024 the Council took the innovative step of launching the Early Intervention and Prevention Fund - a £40 million ten-year fund designed to tackle inequality, child poverty and increase fairness in our communities. Addressing food poverty is a key part of this work and through the fund the Council has ensured that every primary school child has access to a free school meal and young people at secondary school have access to a £1.25 meal deal.
“It is well documented that eating well and attainment go hand in hand, so it isn't just about ensuring our children and young people are fed but also that they are reaching their full potential."