General information

What school meal debt is

Debt on meal accounts happens when there is not enough money to pay for a school meal, snack or drink on a child's meal account.

Children in Primary 1 to 5 and any child or young person entitled to a free school meal in Primary 6 and above will receive a school meal free of charge. 

However, snacks and additional drinks are not included in the free meal. If a child buys food or drink and there is not enough money in a child's meal account to pay for it, this will result in debt.

Money on meal accounts is handled through ParentPay, an online cashless system. Parents and carers can manage the money in their child's meal account through this system.

Most meal accounts only ever go into debt by £5 or less before money is added by the child's parents or carers. There is usually no need for the school or council teams to contact parents and carers about this debt.

Children will always receive a school meal regardless of the balance on their meal account.

How we manage school meal debt

Debts of £15 or more 

If your child's meal account goes into debt by £15 or more, we'll:  

• send you a letter alerting you to the outstanding balance
• send you the letter every week that your debt stays above £15. 

If the debt remains unpaid after the first letter, the school will contact you and discuss if any additional help and support can be offered. They'll help process any referrals to partner organisations and do this in confidence.

Debts of £100 or more

If there is no known reason for the debt and all support provided hasn't resolved the matter, the debt will be passed onto the council's debt recovery team to pursue. We'll never pass your debt to an external debt collection agency.

We'll continue to offer help and support to any parents or carer with more than £100 in debt.

Transferring to another school in Renfrewshire

If a child transfers to another school in Renfrewshire any school meal debt will transfer with them to their new school.

How to prevent school meal debt 

ParentPay has an auto top up function that allows you to make sure your child's meal account is always in credit. You can find a guide on how to do that on their website.

See how to auto top-up your child's balance (ParentPay).

Help and support 

You can talk to your child's school at any time for help and support.

Find out how you may be able to get help with money and benefits.

What the payment includes

If you're a parent or carer with a child in primary and secondary school who gets a free school meal due to family circumstances (on certain benefits), you'll get a payment to cover the school holidays.

Easter break free school meals payment

£25.85 per child will be paid directly into bank accounts by Friday 3 April 2026.

This is based on a payment of £2.35 per weekday per child and covers the 11-day holiday period.

You do not need to apply again to get this payment.

Who will get the payments

If your child is in P6, P7 or secondary school and they get free school meals, you'll get the payment automatically.

If your child gets a school meal because they are in primary 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, you'll only get the payment if:

• they're entitled to a free school meal on the basis of low income (family on certain benefits)
• you've applied for free school meals for this school year (August 2025 to June 2026).

If you've already applied for free school meals this school year, you do not need to apply again.

Find out about what payments you could get for your child including:

Free school meals

If you haven't applied for free school meals and you think your child is eligible, you can apply online. You can check if you qualify for free school meals.

You only need to apply once in each school year.

Money, benefits and financial help

Find out on mygov.scot about what benefits you could get for your family including:

• Scottish Child Payment, a four-weekly payment to help with costs for children under 16
• School Age Payment, a one off payment for when children normally start school.

Our Family Advice service is here to support families with children in primary school, nursery, or younger.

The Schools Support Services (provided by Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau) support families with pupils in secondary or an ASN school.

Make an appointment for money, energy and benefit advice.

What a parent council does

The role of a parent council is to:

• gather and represent the views of parents and carers and make sure the school takes these into account
• support the school in its work with pupils
• encourage parents and carers to get involved in their children's learning and education
• encourage links between the school, parents and carers, pupils, pre-school groups, and the wider community
• report back to the parent forum.

Parent councils are also consulted whenever a school is appointing a new headteacher or deputy headteacher.  

If this process involves a recruitment panel, some parent council members will usually sit on this.

In some cases, a parent council might also arrange activities that support pupils' education and welfare such as fundraisers or social events.

How to join a parent council

If you're interested in joining a parent council, ask your child's school for more information:

• Primary schools in Renfrewshire
• Secondary schools in Renfrewshire
• Additional support needs schools in Renfrewshire.

The head teacher at the school is the first point of contact for information on parent councils.

Parent council liaison meetings

Meetings take place twice a year between representatives from Renfrewshire's parent councils, staff from our Children's Services, and the Director of Children's Services.

All parent council chairpersons from all Renfrewshire schools are invited to attend or send a representative from their parent council.

We’ll email all parent council chairpersons with the date and agenda in advance of each meeting.

More information

The Scottish Government has published guidance on parent councils on the Parentzone Scotland section of the Education Scotland website.

You can also find more information on the National Parent Forum of Scotland website.

Every parent or carer of a pupil attending a school is automatically a member of the parent forum for that school.

The parent forum will receive updates and information about the school and matters of interest to parents and carers.

A smaller group can be chosen from within the parent forum to represent the interests and views of all parents and carers at the school. This is called a parent council.

Although a parent council's main members will always be parents and carers, it can also include:

• school staff
• people from the local community
• someone from a church or denominational body that's linked to the school. 

What admissions panels are

Our admissions panels make decisions on places for children at council-run nurseries and voluntary/private nurseries and childminders in Renfrewshire.

They make decisions after you’ve made a request to:

• apply for a free nursery or childcare place, or
• pay for additional hours of nursery or childcare (wraparound care).

Renfrewshire is divided into 10 admission panel areas of council-run or council-approved nurseries and childminders.  

When applying for a nursery placement, parents should be aware that nurseries sit within panel areas and consider this when selecting their three preferred settings. Although parents do not need to choose all three nurseries from the same panel areas, it is important to understand that each nursery belongs to a specific panel.  

These cover different geographical areas from school catchment areas.

We apply the council’s nursery, early learning and childcare admissions policy when allocating places:

Priority is given to children who meet certain criteria and children living within the panel area.

In each admission panel area, we allocate nursery places in order of priority, starting with priority 1 to priority 5 children. This information is on the policy included above.

Admission panel areas in Renfrewshire 

Funded providers (non-council-run nurseries) are subject to approved provider status following satisfactory completion of the tender process.

Within Renfrewshire Council, private, voluntary or third‑sector nurseries and childminders can deliver funded Early Learning & Childcare (ELC) as long as they meet national and local requirements. 

The tender and approval process sits within the national Funding Follows the Child policy and the National Standard for ELC Providers.

If a funded provider nursery does not comply with these procurement and legislative requirements, they may lose their contracted partnership with us and not be able to offer 1140 entitlement to children.

This means funded providers listed below may change:

Johnstone, Howwood and Lochwinnoch

• Auchenlodment Early Learning and Childcare Class (council-run)
• Gleniffer Nursery
• Lochwinnoch Early Learning and Childcare Class (council-run)
• Mid Gavin Nursery
• Sharon's Tiny Tots Childminding
• Spateston Early Learning and Childcare Centre (council-run)
• Stepping Stones Nursery
• St Margaret's Early Learning and Childcare Class (council-run)
• West Johnstone Early Learning and Childcare Centre (council-run)

Erskine, Bishopton, Inchinnan and Langbank

• Bright Starts Nursery
• Cairellot Nursery Ltd
• Carli's Kindergarten Ltd
• Carole McLauchlan
• Catherine Whyte
• Dargavel Early Learning and Childcare Centre (council-run)
• Erskine Community Nursery - Bargarran
• Erskine Community Nursery - St Anne's
• Inchinnan Community Nursery
• Karen Finnie
• Kelly Rix
• Little Pandas
• St Anne's Early Learning and Childcare Class (council-run)
• St John Bosco Early Learning and Childcare Class (council-run)
• Thrive Childcare and Education Happitots Erskine

Renfrew

• 3 Bears Nursery - Renfrew
• Catherine Young
• Cee Cee's Childcare (Claire Crawford)
• Glendee Early Learning and Childcare Centre (council-run)
• In Safe Hands
• Karen Chalmers
• Kerry Goudie
• Kirklandneuk Early Learning and Childcare Centre (council-run)
• Little Flowers Nursery
• Little Stars Hillington
• Little Rabbit (Malgorzata Kowalik)
• Moorpark Early Learning and Childcare Centre (council-run)
• Puddle Lane

Houston, Bridge of Weir, Brookfield and Kilbarchan

• Abbey Nursery Houston
• Bridge of Weir Early Learning and Childcare Class (council-run)
• Gryffe Manor Nursery
• Houston Early Learning and Childcare Class (council-run)
• Kilbarchan Community Nursery
• Rivendale Nursery

Linwood

• Carli's Kindergarten Ltd
• East Fulton Early Learning & Childcare Class (council-run)
• Elaine Parkhill Childminding
• Linwood Community Childcare
• Our Lady of Peace Early Learning and Childcare Class (council-run)

Foxbar, Glenburn, Brediland and Meikleriggs

• Bushes Early Learning and Childcare Class (council-run)
• Carriagehill Nursery Green Road
• Foxlea Early Learning and Childcare Centre (council-run)
• Glenburn Early Learning and Childcare Centre (council-run)
• Glenfield Early Learning and Childcare Centre (council-run)
• Heriot Early Learning and Childcare Class (council-run)
• St Peter's Early Learning and Childcare Class (council-run)

Paisley West 1: Elderslie, Baronscroft, Castlehead and Westend

• Abbey Nursery
• Hugh Smiley Early Learning and Childcare Centre (council-run)
• Maxwellton Park Nursery and OSC
• St Mary's Early Learning and Childcare Class (council-run)
• Wallace Early Learning and Childcare Class (council-run)
• West Early Learning and Childcare Class (council-run)

Paisley West 2: Ferguslie, Shortroods and Phoenix Park

• Douglas Street Early Learning and Childcare Centre (council-run)
• Ferguslie Early Learning and Childcare Centre (council-run)
• Glencoats Lodge Nursery
• Happitots Nursery - Glasgow Airport
• Hillview Early Learning and Childcare Centre (council-run)
• Mossvale Early Learning and Childcare Class (council-run)
• Rainbow Nursery - Paisley

Paisley Central 1: Charleston, Hawkhead, Hunterhill, Lochfield, Paisley South and Todholm

• Carriagehill Drive Nursery
• Lochfield Early Learning and Childcare Centre (council-run)
• Jennyswell Nursery
• Nursery Times
• Orchard Grove Nursery
• Paisley Early Learning and Childcare Centre (council-run)
• St Charles' Early Learning and Childcare Class (council-run)
• Todholm Early Learning and Childcare Class (council-run)

Paisley Central 2: Gallowhill, Paisley North, Ralston and Seedhill

• Abbeymill Childcare Ltd
• Gallowhill Early Learning and Childcare Class (council-run)
• Leaps and Bounds Nursery
• Little Learners
• Ralston Early Learning and Childcare Class (council-run)
• St Catherine's Early Learning and Childcare Class (council-run)
• Williamsburgh Early Learning and Childcare Class (council-run).

More information

Find out more about:  

• Renfrewshire Council nurseries
• council-approved private and voluntary nurseries and childminders.

This guide explains what admissions panels are and which nurseries and childminders are covered by each admissions panel area in Renfrewshire. 

What Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) are 

Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) is a legal framework that ensures different  organisations work together to robustly assess, monitor, and manage the risks of serious violent and sexual offenders.

Key organisations include Police Scotland, Scottish Prison Service (SPS), our justice social work service, other council services, and Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP).  

These arrangements assess, monitor, and manage the safety risks posed by people convicted of serious crimes.  

These include:

• Registered Sex Offenders who are subject to notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003
• Mentally Disordered Restricted Patients
• Other Risk of Serious Harm Offenders.

These arrangements were established under the terms of the Management of Offenders (Scotland) Act 2005. 

MAPPA reports

North Strathclyde area report

This report covers the North Strathclyde area. Renfrewshire is one of 6 local authority areas within this area:

National annual report

Read the 2024 to 2025 report providing a national overview (Scottish Government website).

More information

If you want to find out more or discuss what services are available to you, contact our justice social work service by: 

What a Drug Treatment and Testing Order (DTTO) is

A Drug Treatment and Testing Order (DTTO) is an intensive community-based sentence available to the courts  

It can be imposed by court when a person’s offence is clearly linked to a drug dependency.  

The person will be required to undergo suitable treatment and is subject to regular testing.

At court, the person must agree to the DTTO being made.

This service is provided in partnership by justice social work and Renfrewshire’s Alcohol and Drugs Recovery Service.

Who can be sentenced with Drug Treatment and Testing Order (DTTO)

A DTTO is usually for people who have a serious drug problem which is linked to their offending behaviour.

The person must agree to treatment and drug testing. 

More information

If you want to find out more , contact our justice social work service by: 

Requirements of a Community Payback Order  

Courts can impose one or more of 10 requirements as part of a Community Payback Order.

These include:

• Offender Supervision - the offender must meet with a social worker for a specified period between 6 months and 3 years. A full assessment will be completed, and a management plan will be created to address the issues and the risk of reoffending
• Unpaid work or other activity - the offender must ‘pay back’ the communities they have harmed by completing unpaid work of between 20 to 300 hours. the other activity gives them the opportunity to develop skills through education or training, to support their reintegration into the community
• Compensation – the offender must pay a financial amount to the victim of their offence
• Residence – the offender must stay at a specific address
• Programme – the offender must take part in a planned set of activities to address their behaviour. This could be part of a group or individual basis
• Mental health treatment – is directed if the offender has been diagnosed with a mental health condition or learning disability that contributes to their behaviour
• Drug treatment – is directed when an offender’s behaviour is found to be connected to drug dependency, and where a Drug Testing and Treatment Order is not suitable
• Alcohol treatment - is directed when an offender’s behaviour is found to be connected to alcohol dependency
• Conduct - where the courts specify the offender to do or not do something to reduce their risk of offending
• Restricted movement – such as a home curfew or electronic tagging. 

If you fail to meet the requirements of a Community Payback Order

When a person starts a Community Payback Order, they will meet with a social worker who will fully explain its requirements. 

If you fail to meet the requirements, our justice social work staff must inform the court.

This could lead to the court imposing different actions on you, including a custodial sentence.

More information

Read the Community Payback Order Summary of Local Authority Annual Reports for 2024 to 2025 (Community Justice Scotland website).

If you want to find out more or discuss what services are available to you, contact our justice social work service by:
 

A Community Payback Order (CPO) is a community based sentence imposed by the court. It orders one or more requirements to a person convicted of an offence to both payback to the community and address their behaviour.

These are significant sentences and can be imposed for a maximum of 3 years.

This order contains a number of possible requirements, each offering the offender the opportunity to change their behaviour, protect the public and promote payback and rehabilitation.  

A Structured Deferred Sentence (SDS) is an intervention after a person has been found guilty of an offence, but before they are given final sentencing.

This is a sentencing option used by the courts for people assessed as low or medium risk of further offending and are not subject to another order.

Its focus is on providing structured support to address why the person’s needs may lead to offending behaviour.

A SDS involves delaying the final sentence to allow for a period of intervention and support with social work. 

This period is usually for between 3 to 6 months and aims to:

• address the causes of the person’s offending behaviour
• prevent further involvement in the justice system
• reduce reoffending
• provide more effective rehabilitation.

At the end of this period, our social work service provides the court with a report on the person’s progress.

If the person has shown positive engagement and progress during the intervention, the court may reduce the severity of the sentence or disposal.

If the person has not shown progress during this time, the court will consider this in its final sentence. This could include imprisonment.

More information

If you want to find out more or discuss what services are available to you, contact our justice social work service by:

What a Fiscal Work Order is   

A Fiscal Work Order (FWO) is an alternative to prosecution, where a person over 16 can agree to complete a period of unpaid work instead of facing court proceedings.

The Procurator Fiscal can offer the person an order to complete between 10 and 50 hours of unpaid work in the community within 6 months.

If the person successfully completes the FWO, they will not be prosecuted or get a criminal conviction for that offense.

The FWO aims to:

• extend the measures available to prosecutors when dealing with people who do not need a court hearing
• provide an opportunity for people accused of relatively minor offences to be dealt out with the court system
• enable those accused of offences to carry out community work to ‘pay back’ for their behaviour and avoid re-offending
• benefit victims and communities through faster and more appropriate resolution of cases
• reduce the demands on the court system and backlog of cases, by removing those that do not need to be taken to court from the process.  

Find out more about unpaid work.

More information

If you want to find out more or discuss what services are available to you, contact our justice social work service by:

Jobs available at Renfrewshire Council

See the latest jobs available at Renfrewshire Council and apply for jobs.

Search for Renfrewshire Council jobs (My Job Scotland)

Register an account with My Job Scotland and you can:

• submit job applications online
• get job alerts for your search emailed to you.

We currently have Facilities Operative jobs available

Facilities Operatives work in local schools, looking after:

• cleaning
• catering
• security
• other services that help with the day-to-day running of Renfrewshire’s schools.

Part-time (15 hours a week) positions are available now in the following schools:

• St John Bosco Primary School, Erskine
• Houston Primary School, Houston
• Renfrew High School, Renfrew
• Paisley Grammar School, Paisley.

See our Facilities jobs (My Job Scotland)

Make a positive difference for Renfrewshire

Every day, the people who work for Renfrewshire Council provide hundreds of services for the people who live, work or visit here.

We all work towards the same goal – making a difference in people’s lives.

If that’s a goal you share with us, we have lots of opportunities to join the team.

Whatever the job you’re looking for, chances are it’s a job we need someone to do for Renfrewshire Council.

Be a part of the team

You’ll be part of a highly-successful team recognised for the quality of its services. We were awarded Association for Public Sector Excellence (APSE) Overall Council of the Year for Service Delivery 2025. Our service and project teams have won multiple awards in recent years.

You’ll help us to deliver on our commitments to the people of Renfrewshire:

• supporting our most vulnerable
• caring for our place and environment
• helping everyone to thrive.

Our hugely-ambitious capital investment in learning estate, high-quality housing and roads infrastructure makes it an exciting time to come to Renfrewshire and work for us.

Employment policies and employee benefits

Our employment policies and our employee benefits are designed to support and invest in the most important asset we have – our people.

It’s a place where you can further your career, whatever profession you’ve chosen, with opportunities and pathways across our diverse range of services.

We live our values every day and you’ll be working alongside great people, dedicated to helping and supporting the local residents we serve.

You’ll enjoy working here! 

Find out more about:

• pay and salaries
• annual leave
• buying additional annual leave
• menopause support
• carer support
• neurodiversity support
• training and learning
• graduate apprenticeships
• staff discounts.

Living in Renfrewshire

Simply put, this is a great place to live and work.

With easy access to the motorway network, excellent public transport links, a major international airport, and an ever-growing network of active travel routes, it’s a great place to get around, and get to where you’re going!

Find out more about our location and connections (Paisley Is).

Our towns and villages are consistently ranked as among the most attractive places to live in Scotland.

We have fantastic retail, hospitality and leisure offerings – and if the great outdoors is more your thing, we’ve got that too.

Our schools are excellent and our local economy is thriving, with plenty of opportunity for all.

Find out more about what's happening and places to go in Renfrewshire:

• One Ren
• Paisley Is.