School Attendance and Pupil Welfare
Get help with School Essentials
Contents:
Overview
If you are the parent or guardian of a child in school, you may be eligible for a grant to help to pay for essential school items.
The official name of this grant is School Essentials Grant.
This is also known as the Pupil development grant, PDG access or Uniform grant.
How much is it?
The grant amount is:
- £200 for children in year 7, and
- £125 for children in all other years.
You can apply from 1 July 2024 to 31 May 2025.
If you received the School Essentials Grant last year and continue to be eligible, we expect your automated payment to be made mid-July. If you do not receive this payment there may be an issue with your eligibility.
How you can use it
You can use the grant to pay for:
- school uniforms and footwear,
- sports equipment and kit,
- school activities, including musical lessons, school trips and after school clubs,
- classroom essentials, including pens, pencils and school bags,
- laptop or tablet if you cannot loan it from the school.
Eligibility
You are eligible if your child receives free school meals.
Please note that this is different to those who receive free school meals under the Welsh Government Universal Primary Free School Meals Scheme, which provides free school meals to all Primary school students in Pembrokeshire from September 2024. Even if your child receives Universal Primary Free School Meals, you should apply for free school meals if you meet the eligibility criteria for the School Essentials Grant.
You may be eligible if you receive one of the following:
- Income support (income based),
- Employment and Support Allowance (income based),
- Child Tax Credit, with a household income of £16,190 or less,
- Pension Credit (guarantee),
- Universal Credit with net household earnings of less than £7400,
- Help under Immigration and Asylum Seekers Act 1999.
- All looked after children/foster children qualify for the grant, whether they receive free school meals or not. An application form will need to be completed for those that come under this.
- The grant is not awarded to pupils beyond year 11 and children have to be of "compulsory" school age to be eligible. (Compulsory school age - under section 8 of the Education Act 1996, children become of compulsory school age on the 31st December, 31st March and 31st August (whichever comes first) following their 5th birthday).
In some cases, you may need to receive one of these even if your child receives free school meals.
Check other help available if you are not eligible for this grant.
Apply
You will need your:
- contact information,
- child's school name,
- national insurance number,
- bank details.
You can apply from 1 July 2024 to 31 May 2025.
After applying
You will receive a confirmation email of your application, and we will let you know what happens next.
School year 2024/2025
The School Essentials Grant for the next academic school year 2024/2025 are expected to be available in July/August. As in previous years the payments will be automated to those who are eligible.
Contact
If you have any questions about your application or need help to apply, you can:
Call 01437 775845
Email SUGS@pembrokeshire.gov.uk