Grants to help the least well off families in Wales with the cost of school have been cut by £100.The School Essentials Grant for the next school year is now open, but there will be less money available.
Children whose families are on lower incomes and qualify for certain benefits can apply for a grant of £125 per learner and £200 for learners entering year seven (to help with increased costs associated with starting secondary school). Last year the figures were £225 and £300 respectively.
Previously known as the PDG Access Grant, The School Essentials Grant provides funding for costs associated with going to school, such as buying uniform, sports kit and equipment. Families with children in reception to year 11 are eligible to apply.
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When it announced the higher grant available last year, the Welsh Government warned it was for one year only, to help families with the cost of living crisis. A Senedd Committee was told some families could not afford to send their children to school every day.
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The cut follows the Welsh Government's decision to halt free school meal holiday provision for eligible children. Eligible families previously received food, vouchers, or money to cover costs for food during holidays and half terms in a scheme to address "holiday hunger" launched to much praise in the pandemic.
Children's Commissioner for Wales Rocio Cifuentes said she is worried children will "go hungry this summer". She said it was a "sad irony" that grants to help with food and school costs were being cut by the Welsh Government just after it published a draft Child Poverty Strategy.
She said: "A significant number of children completing my national survey last year told my office that they worry about having enough to eat. Parents said that they worry about providing their children with three meals a day, and the cost of the school day, including uniform.
"Whilst I recognise the strain on the public purse, it’s a sad irony that shortly after publishing a draft Child Poverty Strategy the Welsh Government has announced a reduction in this critical support. I am very worried about those children and how their families will manage over the summer, especially with living costs still incredibly high, particularly for food. Children should not go hungry in Wales, and I’m worried that this change will increase the number who do this summer.
"These interventions by Welsh Government have provided much-needed support to children and families in Wales. Now is not the time to reduce the support offered to these families who are still facing significant pressures. I’ve requested more information from the Welsh Government on their decision-making so that we can better understand how they think the implications of stopping this critical support for children will be mitigated."
Child food poverty campaigner and former teacher Shonette Bason-Wood, whose charity The Happiness donates food to schools across the UK, said she was disappointed the Welsh Government was halting its ground breaking initiative to provide free school meal provision to those who need it in the school holidays.
She said its "Food and Fun" scheme, a school-based education programme with healthy meals for children during the school summer holidays won't reach all those that need it and some would go hungry. That scheme, delivered by the Welsh Local Government Association will have at least of 16% pupils accessing free school meals take up, the Welsh Government has promised.
But Ms Basson-Wood pointed out that some families might not be able to support their children to get on to the scheme: "These kind of holiday clubs are a great idea but not every parent has the transport, time or enthusiasm to take their children," she said.
She called on the Welsh Government to re-think the cuts saying the cost of living crisis has got worse, not better, since the initiative was introduced. "It is really sad the Welsh Government has decided not to continue this provision.
Children in Wales will go hungry this summer. "In 2023 no child should go hungry in the UK. Everyone has been affected by the cost of living and you can't just go to a food bank if you don't have enough food for your child."
Who is eligible for this year's grants?
Children in compulsory school years from reception to year 11 may be eligible for the grants, if they qualify for certain benefits if their parent or guardian gets any of the
following:
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Guarantee element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided the parent isn’t entitled to Working Tax Credit and has an
annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after a claimant stops qualifying for
Working Tax Credit
• From 1 April 2019, Universal Credit, provided the household has an annualised net
earned income 2 of no more than £7,400 (as assessed by earnings from up to three of
their most recent assessment periods).
How do I claim?
Families are only entitled to claim once per child, per school year. All looked after children qualify for the grant, whether they receive free school meals or not.
The 2023 to 2024 scheme is now open and will close on 31 May 2024. Applications for the grant must be made via the family’s local education authority.
Education Minister Jeremy Miles said: “The School Essentials Grant, helps to reduce the financial burden placed on families when buying school uniform and equipment, enabling children to attend school and take part in activities at the same level as their peers”
“Families are facing increased pressure from the cost of living, which is why we have also introduced new guidance to help schools keep uniform costs down. I have asked schools to review their school uniform policies as a priority.
“The Schools Essentials Grant is the highest level of financial support available in the UK. Around 98,000 children and young people are eligible for the School Essentials Grant and I want to encourage people to find out if they are eligible for this support to help them buy essential school items for their children.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “The School Essentials Grant remains the highest level of financial support available in the UK. We have always been clear that the extra £100 was for one year only.
“When we announced in March 2022 we confirmed the grant would be raised for one year only by £100 per learner eligible for free school meals.”
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