Parents who are struggling to cope with the cost of living crisis can get some help towards buying school uniforms.
The news comes as many parents will be preparing their children for the summer holidays and looking ahead to the new school term, and with that comes further costs for new uniforms and more. Help is at hand though thanks to some councils across the UK who are making their school uniform grants of up to £150 available.
The grants are not compulsory in England, which means not all local authorities have to offer the support. Only certain people will be eligible to apply for the grants too.
Applications for the grants have begun to open following the launches of many retailers' sales of school uniform ranges. For example, Marks and Spencer are offering their customers 20% off their school uniforms until Monday, July 25, 2022. While budget-friendly supermarket, Aldi, has a £5 school uniform bundle.
Those who claim free school meals, are on low incomes or claim benefits might be entitled to help and be able to apply for the grant. The age of your child can also affect whether you qualify as well, reports The Mirror.
A school uniform costs £101.19 per child in secondary school on average, according to a retailer survey by The Schoolwear Association. Below, we explain how school uniform grants work.
Do I qualify for a school uniform grant?
School uniform grants aren’t a statutory requirement in England - which means councils don’t have to provide the funding.
Dozens of local authorities have also slashed funding over the years, which means parents face a postcode lottery for the help. Last year, less than 30 councils in England offered the support, according to MoneySavingExpert.
We’ve asked the Department for Education for the latest number of councils in England that still offer school uniform grants and we’ll update this article when we know more.
How much you could receive in the form of a school uniform grant varies between each council.
For example, Islington Council told The Mirror that it still offers £150 to families where a child is moving from year 6 to secondary school (year 7) as long as they get free school meals.
City of York Council provides a £100 school uniform grant for pupils starting secondary school (year 7), or £50 for children starting years 8, 9, or 10. Last year, constituents of Sandwell Council could get £20 for a child starting reception, or £25 for a child at secondary school years 7 to 11.
Sandwell Council has not confirmed how much its grants will be worth this year, but says more information will be available from July 4.
The school uniform grant system is different in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, where councils have to offer the help. In Wales, you can get up to £200 toward the cost of school uniform per child for Year 7 pupils, or £125 for reception, Year 3 and Year 10 pupils.
Scottish families are entitled to at least £100 per eligible child, although councils can choose to offer more.
If you live in Northern Ireland, you can claim £35.75 for a primary school pupil, £51 for a post-primary/special school pupil under 15 years old, and £56 for a post-primary/special school pupil over 15 years old.
How do I apply for a school uniform grant?
Each council has a different way for residents to apply for the grant. You normally have to fill out a form online, or print out a form and then email or post it off.
Enter your postcode on the Gov.uk website to find details of your local authority. If your council does offer a school uniform grant, you’ll need to check if you qualify before making a claim.
Deadlines vary from council to council, which is also something to keep in mind. Applications generally open in June or July and stay open until at least the end of September. If your local authority doesn’t offer a school uniform grant, it’s worth speaking to your school to see what help they can offer. For example, some may be able to offer you a reduction or some other financial support.
Some charities also offer grants to help cover the costs of school uniform - although again, you'll normally need to be on a low income or claim benefits. Turn2Us has a free grants search tool so you can find out what help is available to you.
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