GORDON MACDONALD HIGHLIGHTS SUPPORT FOR LOCAL FAMILIES
As children across Edinburgh head back to school, local SNP MSP Gordon Macdonald has highlighted the wide range of support available to help families with the cost of learning, including almost 7720 Best Start Grant – School Age Payments worth a total of ££2,132,033 paid out to local families in the last year.
The Best Start Grant – School Age Payment is a one-off payment of £314.45 to eligible families when their child starts primary school, helping with essentials such as school uniforms, shoes, and bags. This is in addition to the Best Start Foods payment card, which supports families with the cost of healthy food throughout the year.
The SNP Government has also expanded free school meals to all pupils in primary 1-5, with plans to extend this to all primary pupils in the lifetime of this parliament. Free school meals save families hundreds of pounds each year while ensuring every child has access to a healthy, nutritious lunch.
To help with the cost of uniforms, the SNP has increased the national minimum School Clothing Grant to at least £120 for primary pupils and £150 for secondary pupils, available through local councils to eligible families.
Commenting, Gordon Macdonald MSP said: “The start of the school year is an exciting time for children, but it can also be a financially challenging time for families. That’s why I’m proud that in the last year alone, 7720 payments worth ££2,132,033 have gone to families in Edinburgh through the Best Start Grant – School Age Payment.
“From the Best Start Grant and School Clothing Grants, to free school meals and the Scottish Child Payment, the SNP is taking real, practical action to support families and tackle child poverty.
“While Labour austerity continues to squeeze household incomes, the SNP is using the powers we have to put money in the pockets of families across the city ensuring every child has the best possible start in life.”
| Local authority area | [NUMBER]Number of Best Start Grant – School Age Payments | [VALUE]Value of Best Start Grant – School Age Payments |
| Total | 123,760 | £34,282,276 |
| Aberdeen City | 3,835 | £1,069,876 |
| Aberdeenshire | 3,680 | £1,023,971 |
| Angus | 2,520 | £701,794 |
| Argyll and Bute | 1,595 | £442,300 |
| Clackmannanshire | 1,390 | £384,647 |
| City of Edinburgh | 7,720 | £2,132,033 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 3,390 | £938,326 |
| Dundee City | 4,220 | £1,163,392 |
| East Ayrshire | 3,550 | £984,048 |
| East Dunbartonshire | 1,380 | £381,962 |
| East Lothian | 2,290 | £635,244 |
| East Renfrewshire | 1,360 | £375,589 |
| Falkirk | 3,685 | £1,021,533 |
| Fife | 9,345 | £2,589,965 |
| Glasgow City | 19,650 | £5,435,352 |
| Highland | 4,450 | £1,235,628 |
| Inverclyde | 1,965 | £545,416 |
| Midlothian | 2,425 | £671,369 |
| Moray | 1,820 | £504,864 |
| Na h-Eileanan Siar | 370 | £101,721 |
| North Ayrshire | 3,920 | £1,086,398 |
| North Lanarkshire | 9,810 | £2,722,056 |
| Orkney Islands | 295 | £81,663 |
| Perth and Kinross | 2,730 | £760,952 |
| Renfrewshire | 4,045 | £1,118,702 |
| Scottish Borders | 2,285 | £632,014 |
| Shetland Islands | 315 | £86,440 |
| South Ayrshire | 2,475 | £681,893 |
| South Lanarkshire | 7,420 | £2,057,810 |
| Stirling | 1,475 | £408,767 |
| West Dunbartonshire | 2,825 | £777,359 |
| West Lothian | 4,685 | £1,298,664 |
| Unknown – Scottish postcode | 75 | £21,509 |
| Unknown – Non-Scottish postcode | 650 | £176,888 |
| Unknown – No postcode | 115 | £32,131 |
