The start of the school year means increased spending for many households, as the cost of uniform, sports kit and classroom essentials can add up. But some families in Wales might be eligible for some financial support offered by the Welsh Government to help ease the strain.
Parents and carers are encouraged to check their child’s eligibility for help with school costs with the application window for the School Essentials Grant now open. Those who might be eligible include families on lower incomes who receive certain benefits, those seeking asylum, and children in care can claim £125 per child per year to help with school costs in primary and secondary school.
For children entering year 7, an increased amount of £200 is available to help with the extra costs associated with starting secondary school. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here.
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Here is everything you need to know about the school essentials grant including how much you get, who qualifies and how to get it.
What is the school essentials grant?
According to the Welsh Government, the School Essentials Grant is available to help families on a low income, with children who attend a maintained primary or secondary school. You can use the grant to buy things like school uniform, sports kit, uniform for enrichment activities, school bags, and stationery for your child.
You can use the grant to buy things like:
- school uniform
- sports kit
- uniform for enrichment activities, such as community sports
- school bags
- stationery
You cannot use this grant to buy IT equipment.
How do I claim?
Families must apply for the School Essentials Grant through their local authority, and applications can be submitted annually for each child. For a learner to be eligible, they must be in care, seeking asylum, or their parent/carer must receive one or more 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
- Guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (as long as parents do not also get Working Tax Credit and their
- annual income is £16,190 or less before tax)
- Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after parents stop qualifying for Working
- Tax Credit)
- Universal Credit (as long as the annual net earned household income is less than £7,400, not including benefits)
Even if your child already receives a Universal Primary Free School Meal, you still need to check eligibility to access the School Essentials Grant and extra funding for your school.
How much am I entitled to?
- Families on lower incomes who receive certain benefits, those seeking asylum, and children in care can claim £125 per child per year to help with school costs in primary and secondary school.
- For children entering year 7, an increased amount of £200 is available to help with the extra costs associated with starting secondary school.
Pupil Development Grant (PDG)
In addition to support paid to a learner’s household, their school or setting will also receive extra funding, for example through the Pupil Development Grant (PDG). This school or setting funding is used to support the attainment of learners from lower income households, for example by supporting high quality learning, family engagement or wellbeing initiatives.
This funding applies to eligible learners in all schools and settings, including special schools and pupil referral units.
David Williams, headteacher of Parc Primary School in Treorchy, said: “We’ve got around 65% of our children who are classed as vulnerable, so the PDG has really transformed how we support our vulnerable families and our low-income families. What it allows us to do is ensure there is equity for all our stakeholders; the pupils, the parents and carers of the school, the wider community.
“We’re very passionate and proud here about the opportunities we give the children and the parents. The children engage in a wide range of activities. They’re learning about the fire triangle, they’re growing and cultivating their own crops, they’re looking at the weather. There is plenty of evidence already of the impact.”
The 2024 to 2025 grant is currently open and will close on May 31, 2025. Find out if your child is eligible and claim now by clicking here.
