Applying for the free £150 School Uniform Grant - what parents need to know

The school uniform grant is offered by local authorities to help families on low incomes manage their budgets

As parents across the country begin to think about children attending new schools, or whether or not their youngsters will have grown by September when - in theory at least - children will be returning to a more normal school day, the costs of school uniform grow ever higher.

But thousands of parents across the country can now apply for a one-off school uniform discount to help with their expenses this September.

As part of the Education Act 1980, financial help should be offered by the Government to help with the costs of school uniform, and it is known as the School Uniform Grant.

However, whether or not parents in Bristol and the West of England area are actually entitled to anything at all is something of a postcode lottery.

For even though the School Uniform Grant is law, and the benefit is compulsory in Scotland, where qualifying families can get up to £100 per child each year, in England the law was relaxed over the years, and unfortunately it is no longer a statutory right.

Many councils across the country have done away with the School Uniform Grant, as they face swingeing cuts in the amount of money each local authority receives from the Government.

This means that where you live is the biggest factor in how much, if anything you can get.

Parents in Islington, for example, could be entitled to the full £150.

But in the West of England area, there is a very different story.

The Government have set up a page on its website where you can type in your postcode and it will tell you if you are entitled to the grant or not.

But for parents in and around Bristol, there is bad news. If anyone were to click on the Government's school uniform grant page, and then type in their postcode, then people living in three of the four local authority areas are simply directed to that council's own website.

For North Somerset, Bristol and Bath & North East Somerset have now scrapped the idea of the School Uniform Grant, and say they just can't afford to pay it.

In those places, as is common in most other local authorities, parents who face difficulties affording a school's uniform are urged to talk to the school itself - many schools have funds set up to help, or can sort out affordable options.

But there is one council - South Gloucestershire - where parents can, maybe, get something to help with the rising costs of school uniform.

In the past two years, Mirror Money has heard from dozens of councils who have withdrawn from the scheme - with many stating they no longer have the budget for it.

This includes Stockton, Cornwall, Cambridgeshire and Northumberland - while other areas such as Nottinghamshire now only pay it to children with special educational needs.

Nevertheless, it's always worth checking your local authority to see if you qualify.

Right now, residents in South Gloucestershire can apply for up to £25 off, while those in Islington, London, can claim up to £150 off.

If you don't, the Department for Education says that parents may be able to apply for a reduction from their child's school, instead.

"Our guidance emphasises that schools should give highest priority to cost considerations," a spokeswoman told Mirror Money.

"No school uniform should be so expensive as to leave pupils or their families feeling unable to apply to, or attend a school of their choice due to the cost of the uniform," he added.

Applications for the grant typically open in July, but there are strict conditions for any parent living in South Gloucestershire to meet before the council will just give out the free cash for uniforms.

South Gloucestershire council said it provides the grant in 'exceptional circumstances' and it is for essential school clothing available to parents on low incomes.

To receive a school clothing grant you must be in receipt of:

• Child Tax Credit, provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not exceed £16,190

• Universal Credit and not working

• Income Support

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit

And in addition one of the following conditions must also apply - and the council will want evidence of one of these:

• you have been affected by a fire, theft or flood

• homelessness – for example you are a parent leaving home due to domestic violence

• medical condition – for example your child is affected by one of the following: obesity, extreme growth, enuresis or soiling problem

• bereavement – your child has lost a parent

• conditions of extreme poverty – such as situations where your family are at risk of being made homeless, or affected by high debts etc.

• reconstituted families – for example, where your child returns to live with one parent having lived with the other and financial difficulties arise (your child may arrive with no clothing)

• move of school due to supported transfer (Permanently Excluded Pupil)

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How to apply for the school clothing grant

To apply for the grant you will need to complete the school clothing grant application form and provide a copy of your award letter for the benefits you are receiving.  Evidence must also be provided for the secondary conditions. All evidence for both criteria must be dated within the last 3 months.

If your child is eligible you will receive £25.00 if they are already in school and £50.00 if they are transferring schools whatever the age.  This includes moving from primary to secondary school, or starting school.

Parent or guardians will receive a letter confirming that they have been awarded the grant and a voucher for the appropriate amount will be at the bottom of the letter.  They can take the voucher to a shop or school and exchange for the purchase of school clothing.  The voucher is valid for 3 months, from the date the claim was awarded.

If you wish to make enquiries about the school clothing grant please telephone on 01454 868008: Monday to Thursday 8.45am to 5.00pm and Friday 8.45am to 4.30pm or email cis@southglos.gov.uk.