School uniforms: Every Council meets £100 clothing grant pledge

Every council in Scotland has delivered on an agreement that all eligible families will be able to receive a grant of at least £100 to cover the cost of school uniforms.      

Cosla has confirmed that all 32 local authorities have implemented an increase for school clothing grant payments to at least £100 while maintaining the eligibility criteria they had in place before the introduction of the grant.

An estimated 120,000 families are eligible for the grant, which was put in place ahead of pupils returning to school for the start of the new academic year.

The national minimum school clothing grant was agreed in May following discussions between the Scottish Government and Cosla.

Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, said: “We know school uniforms can be a considerable cost for families and I am delighted to see that our partnership working with local authorities has resulted in all councils across Scotland paying the national minimum school clothing grant.

“This will help to relieve pressure for around 120,000 families, reduce costs of living and allow all children to attend school feeling comfortable, confident and ready to learn.”

Councillor Stephen McCabe, COSLA Children and Young People spokesperson said: “Local authorities are aware that many families face financial pressures in relation to their children’s education. It was for this reason that we reached agreement with the Scottish Government to provide a minimum clothing grant of at least £100 to assist with the cost of school uniforms. Local authorities are now delivering on this commitment which helps with some of the financial challenges families face.

“The National Minimum School Clothing Grant is one of a number of wider actions in the Scottish Government’s Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, which has the objective of increasing family incomes and reducing living costs.  The level at which the minimum school clothing grant is set will next be reviewed in 2020 to ensure the amount paid remains in line with the cost of living.

“Local authorities across Scotland have a strong commitment to tackling poverty and inequality through their Community Planning Partnerships, and to directly involve their communities in doing so, and from summer 2019 will additionally start their public reporting on actions they have taken to reduce child poverty and what more they plan to do in the following year.”