New school meal menus are now live, providing children with some of the food they love while still keeping within the new food and drink in schools legislation.

Thanks to parents and pupil feedback, some favourites returning will be:

• Chicken poppers
• Sandwich options
• Hot dogs
• Vegetarian sausage rolls

Vegan and vegetarian options will be available, and we will continue to provide medical diets as required.

School meals still need to be balanced to ensure they meet the new food regulations, but children will get their favourites as part of the new menu, just not all the time.

Check www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/schoolmeals for more details.

Well done to all our Children for creating some fantastic cards!!

Here are our winning designs:

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The rules on self-isolation for household contacts has changed.

If you’re identified as a household contact of a positive COVID-19 case, you are advised to self-isolate for 10 days – irrespective of vaccination status, PCR test result and age.

What should I do if my child has COVID 19 symptoms?

It is extremely important that you continue to look out for symptoms of the virus amongst your own family. The most common symptoms are:

• new, continuous cough
• fever/high temperature (37.8C or greater)
• loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste

If your child has symptoms, they should not attend school and you should book them a test straightaway. They should remain at home and everyone in the household should self-isolate until they receive their test results. If the test is negative, everyone can stop isolating (and return to school). 

More information can be found on the parentclub website by clicking HERE .

If you do not have symptoms, you can order rapid lateral flow tests for regular testing at home.

The Scottish Government are encouraging everyone to take regular tests, particularly if you’re socialising or mixing with other households.

Find out how to book LFD and PCR tests by clicking HERE .

By Friday 17 December, Renfrewshire Council will make two payments to parents and carers of primary-school children who are entitled to a free school meal on the basis of low income.

The first payment of £160 per child is part of the Scottish Government extending the Scottish Child Payment to children aged six to 16.

The second payment of £22.50 per child is in place of free school meals over the Christmas break.

That means a total of £182.50 will be paid into bank accounts in December.

These payments will only be made to parents of children eligible to receive a free school meal on the basis of low income.

Children who receive a universal school meal (those in P1, P2, P3 and P4) will only receive a payment if:

-your child is entitled to receive a free school meal on the basis of low income

-you have applied for free school meals.

If you have already applied for free school meals this school year (August 2021 to June 2022), you do not need to apply again.

If you haven’t applied for free school meals, you can do so now using the MyAccount form on the council’s website. You can also check if you qualify to apply. See free school meals payments during school holidays for more information.

If your child will be 5 between 1 March 2022 and 28 February 2023, you should register them for school now.

Apply by Friday 5 November 2021 using this link: www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/P1-registration

You can only register your child at one local school, either the denominational or the non-denominational school in your catchment area (where you live).

If you, or someone you’re helping, can’t register online, phone your local primary school and make an appointment to register in person during the registration dates.

If you want your child to go to another school outside of your catchment area, you’ll need to:

-register your child at a school in your catchment area first

-apply for a place at a school outside your catchment area (placing request) or phone us at 0300 300 0170.

If you can’t register your child for school till after Friday 5 November, please contact your local school directly.