CONSUMER Finance Expert, Fast Loan UK, shares what help you could be entitled to ahead of the School Essentials Grant deadline on May 31.
The ‘School Essentials Grant’ provides financial support to parents and carers once per school year for each child. This can help to cover the cost of the following:
- School uniform, including coats and shoes
- School activities, including learning a musical instrument, sports kit and other equipment for after-school activities
- Classroom essentials, including pens, pencils and school bags
- Specialist equipment for new curriculum activities, such as design and technology
- IT equipment: laptops and tablets only, where a school is unable to loan equipment to the family
- Equipment for out-of-school hours trips, such as outdoor learning (for example, waterproofs)
- Non-uniform essential items, such as clothing, to support access and involvement in residential outdoor education
- Uniform for enrichment activities, including but not limited to: scouts, guides, cadets, martial arts, sports, performing arts, or dance
The grant is specifically intended for low-income families with children in reception to year 11. To be eligible, learners must:
- Be eligible for means-tested Free School Meals
- Be in local authority care
Learners who receive free school meals due to transitional protection arrangements do not qualify. It’s also important to note that receiving Universal Primary Free School Meals does not automatically entitle your child to the School Essentials Grant.
That being said, local authorities are encouraged to use their discretion to provide the grant to children whose parents or carers are not entitled to public funds.
As the School Clothing Grant is a national scheme run by the Welsh government, all councils will administer payments for the same amount, which is £125 per child or £200 per year for children entering year 7, to reflect the increased costs associated with starting high school.
The deadline to apply for the School Essentials Grant across Wales is May 31. This includes the likes of Flintshire County Council, Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council.
Expect to receive payment around four weeks following your application.
To apply for the Welsh School Essentials Grant, visit your local authority’s website to submit an application online.
Joe Brunt, Consumer Finance Expert at Fast Loan UK, said: “Understandably, many parents in Wales may need support with school costs, such as uniforms, classroom stationery, and laptops.
“Ahead of the deadline, consider checking your eligibility to help ease financial expenses for the school year.”
Fast Loan UK has shared the School Essentials Grant you could be entitled to.
