The little-known school uniform scheme that can save you £150

The School Uniform Grant exists to help low-income families. Find out if you qualify, how to apply and how much money you'll receive

From shirts, trousers and skirts to sports kits, bags and trousers – the cost of school uniform can quickly mount up. But there is help in the form of the School Uniform grant.

A survey by The Schoolwear Association found that the average cost of a school uniform is £101.19 – a whopping cost for parents.

Often, just when you've spent a fortune, they have a growth spurt and need a whole new wardrobe. And recent figures from the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) reveal putting a child through education costs up to £1,750 a year.

• Thousands of families could get £70 payment to help towards school holiday costs
• The best school uniform sales, including Aldi, Lidl, M&S, Tesco and Asda
• How to help your child beat GCSE stress

Where you can get the School Uniform grant

Local councils have the power to provide parents with grants to help them buy skirts, trousers and more under the Education Act 1990.

The School Uniform grants are worth up to £150 per child, but how much you get, and if you qualify, does depends where you live, so it's a bit of a postcode lottery, unfortunately, but it's always worth checking if you're eligible.

What is the school uniform grant?

The grant helps poorer families with their expenses by letting them apply to their local authorities for support buying school uniforms.

Grants are available for people on benefits including job seeker’s allowance, income-related employment or support under the national asylum seekers support system, or low income, though eligibility varies for each council.

Who is eligible for the school uniform grant?

Children who qualify for free school meals will usually also qualify for school uniform grants as well, so long as your council offers grants.

In some cases, financial support will depend on your child’s age or what type of school they are attending.

How much can I get?

What you can get depends on where you live, as there's no statutory duty to offer grants across the whole of the UK.

In England, what you can get will vary depending on what council area you fall under.

The Welsh Government has extended the Pupil Development Grant which is open until June 30, 2023.

Under it, families can get grants to buy school uniform, including footwear and bags, plus laptops and tablets too.

But you have to be on any number of benefits, including Employment and Support Allowance and Income Support.

Meanwhile, households in Scotland can get grants worth up to £120 for each primary school age child and £150 for every secondary school age child.

In Northern Ireland, like in Wales, the money is allocated from the devolved Government to councils who distribute the grants.

Applications for the 2023/24 year are not currently available though.

How can you apply for the grant?

To find out if your council offers the School Uniform Grant, enter your postcode into this Gov.uk page for school uniform support page.

Applications can generally be made between June and the end of September, but check with your local council for details.

If your council does't yet offer the School Uniform Grant, then it's worth asking your child's school directly, to see if they can offer any help with uniform costs.

Related content

Mum's simple hack to transform old school shoes

CHAT: How much do you spend on your child's school uniform?

Benefits and support for single parents