Universal provision of free school meals will be extended to all pupils in primary six and seven.
The policy was initially supposed to come into effect at the beginning of the current school year but was quietly dropped.
Currently only pupils in P1-P5 are in receipt of free school meals, but Nicola Sturgeon re-committed to the rollout in the face of the crippling cost of living crisis.
A Children’s Care and Justice Bill will be introduced to ensure that young people under justice and care systems are treated more appropriately, the First Minister said.
The Bill will end the practice of placing children under 18 in young offenders’ institutions.
An Education Reform Bill will be brought in to establish an independent education inspectorate and a new public body responsible for qualifications.
This is just one of many targets on the agenda for the First Minister’s next parliamentary year.
Earlier it was announced that thousands of kids and teens could get free cash to help with the rising cost of living.
From November, around 400,000 children could get the cash boost as part of Nicola Sturgeon’s new Programme for Government.
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The Scottish child payment is set to be increased to £25 per eligible child per week from November 14.
The benefit will now also be open to all eligible under-16s.
Ms Sturgeon said: “Through this year’s Programme for Government we will take every action, within the financial means and legislative powers at our disposal, to help people through this humanitarian crisis that will cost lives.
“The most significant powers to tackle this crisis rest squarely with the UK Government and their inaction has compounded the difficulties everyone is facing.”
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“In the absence of a plan from the incoming prime minister we have set a clear set of actions which the UK Government could take now, and should have taken already, to begin to address the crisis.
“These include an immediate cancellation of the October price cap and an uprating of benefits.
“The last few months have made it abundantly clear Scotland cannot rely on the UK Government to support people in Scotland through this crisis.
“It is vital they have a choice over their future.
“Make no mistake, we will continue to act where others have not to help people and businesses – and the UK Government needs to follow our example.”
