Parents on low wages in parts of Scotland are struggling to access financial support for school uniforms that would be available in other council areas. Most of Scotland’s councils pay the grant to people on universal credit who earn a salary from employment of less than £850 a month, roughly equal to 16 hours a week at minimum wage. However, some councils will pay the clothing allowance to people earning as much as twice that amount. The Child Poverty Action Group is calling for thresholds to be raised across Scotland, saying parents can easily be in poverty and not qualify for the support.
Scottish government guidance says families on low incomes should be able to access a minimum of £120 a year for a primary pupil and £150 for a secondary pupil, figures which have not risen for three years. But the eligibility for who gets the cash is set by local councils and varies widely across the country. About 120,000 pupils receive the clothing grant, but many parents who are in poverty are not eligible for state support.
The Scottish government said it had provided funding of £14.2m for the school funding grant this year, and a spokesman said local authorities are responsible for the administration and distribution of this grant. Last year, the Scottish government published guidelines on how to make uniforms more accessible and affordable, saying schools should use generic items and colours that could be bought from a range of suppliers, promote uptake of the school clothing grant, and ensure branded items are not encouraged.
West Calder High School in West Lothian has completely re-designed its uniform to make it more affordable and accessible, asking pupils and the local community what they wanted to wear. The school now buys the basic uniform in bulk and sells a full uniform to parents for £10, compared to a traditional uniform with shirt and tie which would cost £56. The head teacher said the school’s new approach has helped to reduce the cost of the school day and make it more accessible for all pupils.
Source link
