School Essentials Grant available to support eligible learners

With the new school year just around the corner, parents and carers are reminded to check to see if they are eligible for the School Essentials Grant Fund which offers support for key items such as school uniform.

The Welsh Government grant is open to all compulsory school year groups from reception to year 11 and each eligible learner will be entitled to a grant of £125. However, pupils in Year 7 will receive £200 due to the increased costs of starting secondary school.

The grant can be used 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.

Learners who are eligible for free school meals, are also likely to be eligible for the School Essentials Grant.  However, in some instances, parents/carers may need to be claiming another benefit as well. 

A full eligibility criteria is available on the council’s website and families are entitled to claim once per child, per school year. The 2023 to 2024 scheme is now open and will close on 31 May 2024. 

I would like to encourage all eligible families to apply for this grant and it’s great that this support can be used for such a wide range of essential items.

It’s really important that no learners are disadvantaged due to financial reasons and grants such as this will offer a boost to many young people right across the county borough.

It’s also worth noting that this scheme is not just open ahead of the school year but until the end of May 2024.

Cllr Jon-Paul Blundell, Cabinet Member for Education

To apply for the School Essentials Grant, please visit the council’s website.