School Attendance and Pupil Welfare
School Essentials Grant
Contents:
Overview
If you are the parent or guardian of a child in school and receives free school meals, you may be eligible for a School Essentials Grant to help with the cost of key school items.
Also known as:
- Pupil Development Grant (PDG access)
- Uniform Grant.
What you get
- £200 for children in year 7
- £125 for children in all other years
- Apply between 1 July 2025 to 31 May 2026
If you received the grant last year and are still eligible, you may get an automatic payment in mid-July.
What it covers
You can use the grant for:
- School uniforms and footwear
- Sports kit and equipment
- School trips, after-school clubs, music lessons
- Classroom supplies (e.g. pens, bags)
- Laptop or tablet if you cannot loan it from the school
Eligibility
Your child must be eligible for means tested free school meals. This is different from the Universal Primary Free School Meals Scheme,
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 must 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 details.
- Child's school name.
- National Insurance number.
- Bank details.
You can apply from 1 July 2025 to 31 May 2026.
After applying
You will receive a confirmation email of your application, and we will let you know what happens next.
Contact
If you have any questions about your application or need help to apply, you can:
Call 01437 775845
Email SUGS@pembrokeshire.gov.uk