School uniform grant increased
Financial support for many families in Highland towards the cost of school clothing has been increased from £90 per pupil to £140 from the academic year beginning 2018.
Working in partnership with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA), the Scottish Government has agreed all Scottish councils will provide a minimum £100 school clothing grant for eligible families from academic year 2018/19.
Councillor Andrew Baxter, chairman of the council’s care, learning and housing committee, said: ‘Providing this level of financial assistance with the costs of school clothing for eligible families means Highland pupils are better equipped to attend school and to focus on their education without the stigma of wearing clothes that don’t fit. Assisting parents and carers with the cost of school clothing can help to alleviate poverty in the Highlands.’
In 2017/18, the Highland Council provided £90 per school pupil per annum, the fifth highest rate in Scotland, which was fully funded from the council’s revenue budget. In 2017/18, more than 3,700 Highland pupils benefited from a school clothing grant.
The additional funding provided by the Scottish Government from 2018/19 will top up the existing rate, taking the council’s grant to £140 per pupil. This exceeds the £100 minimum amount agreed with the Scottish Government by £40 from academic year 2018/19.
Council leader councillor Margaret Davidson, chairwoman of the poverty and inequalities working group, said: ‘The average cost of clothing school pupils in Highland ranges from £106 to £130 per pupil which is a significant outlay for parents. I welcome this increase as it helps to reduce inequalities for families and is one of the measures being taken to proactively address poverty, in particular child poverty.’
Applications for school clothing grants can be made at highland.gov.uk/schoolmealsandclothinggrants. Alternatively, application forms are available from the council’s operations team on 01463 703645.
Help with the completion of the form is also available from the council’s welfare support team which can be contacted on Freephone 0800 090 1004.