Free school meals - test of change phase: equality impact assessment

Key Findings

The protected characteristics of age, disability, sex, pregnancy and maternity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnership have been considered when preparing this Equality Impact Assessment and we do not expect any negative impact from this policy. No gaps or limitations were identified.

The policy of delivery of FSMs to those in receipt of Scottish Child Payment in secondary 1 to 3 is designed to ensure that those in this ToC group can access free and nutritious meals.

It is open to all children and young people in this group irrespective of their sex, disability, race, religion or belief or sexual orientation etc.

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 positively impacted by this policy approach.

The policy of delivery of FSMs to those in receipt of SCP in secondary 1-3 expands the current provision of FSMs to an age group that may otherwise not have access to FSMs.

Disability

The impact is assessed as neutral in relation to this protected characteristic.

Sex

The impact is assessed as neutral in relation to this protected characteristic.

Sexual orientation

The impact is assessed as neutral in relation to sexual orientation.

Race

As people from minority ethnic (Non-White) groups are more likely to be in relative poverty after housing costs compared to those from the White - British or White - Other groups, this expansion to the FSM Programme may advance equality of opportunity. Accordingly, in terms of ethnicity, the impact of this policy is considered to be positive.^[1]

Religion or belief

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.

The impact of this policy is considered to be neutral.

Pregnancy and maternity, gender reassignment and marriage and civil partnership

Limited information is available in relation to the protected characteristic of pregnancy and maternity, gender reassignment and marriage and civil partnership.

The schools provisions in Part 6 of the Equality Act 2010 do not apply to the protected characteristic of marriage and civil partnership so this characteristic has not been assessed.

The impact of this policy approach on these characteristics is considered neutral.