Grant of £100 for uniform

A new national minimum school clothing grant has been set at £100 and will relieve pressure on families, Education Secretary John Swinney has said.

About 120,000 families will have access to the minimum level of financial support, which previously varied among local authorities.

Ministers say the scheme will open ahead of the 2018-19 academic year with eligibility determined at a local level.

A survey last year found that some teachers had personally funded school uniforms for children living in poverty.

The annual costs are expected to reach

£12 million, with 50% of the cost met by the Scottish Government and 50% by local authorities.