A renewed attack has been made on the provision of free breakfasts to Perth and Kinross school children, after a report showed parents were using the scheme as free morning childcare.
It was agreed a year ago to provide free breakfasts to P1 to P3 in the 16 schools with the highest free school meal numbers in Perth and Kinross.
Older children could get the breakfasts for £1.
It was thought the initiative would improve behaviour and attendance, prevent lateness and ensure the youngsters were getting a nutritious meal.
A first year report to Wednesday’s lifelong learning committee states schools have found clear benefits, parents are “very favourable” and there has been an “overwhelmingly positive response” from pupils.
However, the council’s Conservative education spokeswoman Barbara Vaughan said the paper vindicates her party’s initial opposition to the clubs’ lack of means testing.
“The Conservative group warned the administration the breakfast club programme would be discriminating on the basis of geography and not based on need.
“This is proved to be the case in the report that will be considered by the lifelong learning committee.
“The success of the programme should be judged on the basis of the number of children in poorer families who are taking advantage of the scheme.
“Sixteen schools were identified as covering 20% of the most deprived areas in Perth and Kinross. In two of the 16 schools no child who is eligible for free school meals attends the breakfast club. In another only two of the 23 eligible attends.
“In the survey of parents over 300 thought the value of the breakfast club was to assist with child care.
“Only eight felt that it ensured their child had a nutritious breakfast and five that it ensured that their child got to school on time.”
She called on the administration to have a “total rethink” on free breakfast provision, adding, “Where parents, not on benefits, wish for the breakfast club to continue, charges should be at a realistic level to cover the costs.
“The Conservative group remains convinced that resources should be targeted on those with most need.
“There are nearly 60 other primary schools where no child eligible for free school meals has the opportunity to receive free breakfasts.
“This is blatant geographical discrimination.
“The SNP/Liberal Democrat administration put £300,000 in the budget to cover the costs of breakfast clubs, at the same time as making savings that will have an adverse effect on children across the council, the elderly and the vulnerable.
“These savings will result in classroom assistants being withdrawn, playparks being closed, the elderly having to pay for day care and those requiring aids and equipment having to pay for their installation and maintenance.”
Lifelong learning convener Liz Grant said, “We are now looking at how this (the scheme) can be developed in the future to reach more pupils.”