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School uniform grants
What each UK nation pays towards school uniform, who qualifies, and what to do in England — where there is no national grant.
Written by the benefitmoney.co.uk editorial team · Last reviewed 9 September 2026
Three of the four UK nations run a national school uniform grant. England does not — there, help comes from your council, and only if your council offers it.
£200 entering year 7
£150 secondary
£61.20–£67.20 post-primary
Sources: gov.wales; mygov.scot; nidirect; GOV.UK. All checked 9 September 2026.
What you can get, where you live
Amounts from gov.wales, mygov.scot, nidirect and GOV.UK, checked 9 September 2026. Eligibility is set separately by each scheme.
Wales — the grant changed its name
Pupil Development Grant – Access
School Essentials Grant
Same scheme, new name on gov.wales. If you searched for the PDG, this is what it is called now.
The Welsh Government pays a grant towards the cost of school essentials — uniform, PE kit, equipment, and activity costs.
| Who | Amount |
|---|---|
| Reception to year 11 | £125 per learner |
| Learners entering year 7 | £200 |
The higher year 7 figure recognises the cost of moving to secondary school — a new uniform, a new PE kit, often a new bag and shoes in the same month.
Who qualifies
- Your child gets means-tested free school meals — not the universal primary free school meals, which every young pupil in Wales receives
- Or your child is looked after by a local authority
- Or you receive certain qualifying benefits
Source: gov.wales — School Essentials Grant↗↗. Checked 9 September 2026.
Scotland — a statutory minimum
Scotland is the only nation with a guaranteed floor. Councils run their own School Clothing Grant and set their own eligibility rules, but the amount cannot fall below the national minimum.
| Age of child | Minimum you will receive |
|---|---|
| Primary school age | £120 per child |
| Secondary school age | £150 per child |
Eligibility is set locally and usually tracks free school meals or a low household income. Apply through your council.
Source: mygov.scot — Clothing grants. Checked 9 September 2026.
Northern Ireland — set by age and school stage
The Education Authority pays a uniform grant, and a separate amount towards PE kit at post-primary.
| Pupil | Grant |
|---|---|
| Primary | £42.90 |
| Post-primary or special school, under 15 | £61.20 |
| Post-primary or special school, 15 or over | £67.20 |
| Post-primary PE kit | £26.40 |
- Eligibility follows the free school meals criteria
- You apply through the Education Authority's free school meals application — one form covers both
- Nursery and reception classes are excluded
- Normally only one clothing allowance per pupil per school year
Source: nidirect — School uniform and uniform grants↗↗. Checked 9 September 2026.
England — no national grant, but a new rule on cost
GOV.UK is direct about it:
You may be able to get help with school uniform costs. If you live in England, contact your local council to find out if there is support in your area.
GOV.UK
That is the whole national position. Some councils run a school clothing grant, some fold uniform help into their Crisis and Resilience Fund, and some offer nothing. It is worth phoning and asking for the local welfare or crisis support team rather than searching the council website for the word "uniform".
What did change in England, this month
Statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms now limits how many branded items a school can require. From September 2026:
Schools must also make sure second-hand uniform is available to current and prospective parents in a timely way, and must publish clear information on their website about where to get it.
Source: GOV.UK — Cost of school uniforms (statutory guidance). Checked 9 September 2026.
If you do not qualify, or the grant does not cover it
- Your council's crisis schemegrantIn England this is now the Crisis and Resilience Fund. Councils often include school uniform and school-holiday food among the essentials they cover. How it works
- Charity grantsgrantThe Turn2us Grants Search matches you to grant-giving organisations by your circumstances. School clothing is a common category. Where to look
- Budgeting Loaninterest-freeOn Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA or Pension Credit, clothes or footwear is on GOV.UK's list of what a Budgeting Loan can pay for. Full detail
- Budgeting Advanceinterest-freeOn Universal Credit, clothes and footwear are also listed. £100 minimum. Full detail
- The school itselfMany schools hold a uniform bank or a hardship fund and do not advertise it. Ask the school office or the pastoral lead directly — this is the single most under-used route.
When to apply
Grant schemes are seasonal and most run out or close. The pattern across the nations:
- Wales — the window is fixed: 1 July 2026 to 31 May 2027.
- Scotland and Northern Ireland — apply as soon as the school year's application opens, usually early summer.
- England — council schemes often open in a new financial year and close when the money runs out. If yours says there is no funding left, ask when it reopens and what else is available now.
What changed on this page
- Page created. Wales’s scheme is now the School Essentials Grant (was Pupil Development Grant – Access); England’s branded-item limits apply from September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the school uniform grant?
It depends where you live. Wales pays £125 per learner, or £200 for a learner entering year 7. Scotland guarantees at least £120 for a primary pupil and £150 for a secondary pupil. Northern Ireland pays £42.90 at primary and £61.20 to £67.20 at post-primary, plus £26.40 for PE kit. England has no national grant.
Is there a school uniform grant in England?
Not nationally. GOV.UK says to contact your local council to find out whether there is support in your area. Some councils run a scheme, some cover uniform through their crisis fund, and some offer nothing.
What happened to the Pupil Development Grant in Wales?
It is now called the School Essentials Grant on gov.wales. Same idea, and it still covers uniform, PE kit, equipment and activity costs.
Can I get it more than once a year?
Normally no. Wales allows one claim per child per school year, and Northern Ireland normally allows one clothing allowance per pupil per year.
Do I have to be on benefits?
Usually yes, or on a low income. Wales requires means-tested free school meals, being looked after, or a qualifying benefit. Northern Ireland follows the free school meals criteria. Scotland's rules are set by each council.
Does universal free school meals count in Wales?
No. The School Essentials Grant requires means-tested free school meals, not the universal primary free school meals that every young pupil in Wales receives.
How many branded uniform items can a school in England require?
From September 2026, three or fewer compulsory branded items at primary and other schools, and four or fewer at secondary and middle schools if one of them is a tie.
My school does not offer second-hand uniform.
In England, statutory guidance requires schools to have arrangements in place so second-hand uniform is available in a timely way, and to publish clear information about where to get it. If yours does not, raise it with the governing board.
Sources
- gov.wales — School Essentials Grant↗↗. Checked 9 September 2026.
- mygov.scot — Clothing grants (school clothing grant minimum amounts)↗↗. Checked 9 September 2026.
- nidirect — School uniform and uniform grants↗↗. Checked 9 September 2026.
- GOV.UK — Help with school clothing costs↗↗. Checked 9 September 2026.
- GOV.UK — Cost of school uniforms: statutory guidance for schools and governing boards↗↗. Checked 9 September 2026.
- GOV.UK — Budgeting Loans: What you could get↗↗. Checked 9 September 2026.
This page is independent. It is not run by any local council, education authority, the Welsh Government, the Scottish Government or GOV.UK.