Pupils are supported with healthy, tailored meals

North Ayrshire Council’s Catering service is working closely with schools and early years establishments to make sure children and young people with specific dietary requirements can enjoy healthy, nutritious meals during the school day.

The service supports pupils across nurseries, primary schools and secondary schools who require:

• medical diets for conditions such as diabetes and allergies, including gluten intolerance or Coeliac disease, cow’s milk, eggs and peanuts
• ethical and religious diets, including vegan, vegetarian, Halal and Kosher options and
• adapted menus for children and young people with Additional Support Needs (ASN), including neurodiverse pupils and those with chewing or swallowing difficulties.

For early years establishments, the Council follows the Scottish Government’s Setting the Table guidance, the national nutritional and food standards guidance for early learning and childcare providers.

For primary and secondary schools, menus are developed in line with The Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2020.

Together, these standards help ensure that children and young people are offered balanced, nutritious meals that support their health, wellbeing and learning.

Where a child requires changes to the standard menu, parents and carers can request a Specific Dietary Request Form.

Once completed and returned to the school with supporting documentation, catering staff can work with families and school staff to identify suitable alternative meals based on the individual child’s needs.

Each day, the Council supports more than 800 pupils who require an adapted meal.

This work also reflects the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which recognises children’s right to the best possible health and access to nutritious food.

Article 24 of the UNCRC focuses on health, food, water and a safe environment. Ensuring children can access nutritious meals during the school day, whatever their needs, is one practical way the Council supports those rights.

At Annick Primary School in Irvine, Headteacher Julie Turner works closely with the catering team, parents, carers and pupils to make sure children are offered meals they can safely enjoy.

She said: “We have pupils who need specific meals because of their religious beliefs, allergies or medical needs - including allergies to peanuts, cow’s milk and gluten.

“The Council has clear processes in place to make sure every child is catered for. In school, we display nutritional standards and allergen information alongside our lunch menu so families and pupils can see what is available.

“Our catering staff work closely with pupils and families to ensure individual needs are met and, importantly, that children enjoy their meals.”

P2 pupil Robert, who has a non-dairy diet, said his favourite school meals include sponge cake with specially made dairy-free custard, cherry yogurt and egg sandwiches.

P6 pupil Caitleen, who does not eat pork because of her family’s religious beliefs, enjoys school lunches including pizza and tuna pasta, which kitchen staff prepare using vegan mayonnaise.

Published: 22 September 2026