Grants and Bursaries
Council Office
High Street
Elgin
IV30 1BX
Tel: 01343 551374
Email: educationalservices@moray.gov.uk
Free School Meals and Clothing Grants
What is a clothing grant?
A clothing grant is a discretionary grant given by the Local Authority toward the costs of clothing and footwear for children to attend school. The grant is a standard amount per child, although this amount may vary from year to year.
Who is entitled to free school meals and a clothing grant?
Free school meals and clothing grants are provided to children whose parent(s) / carer(s) receive the following benefits:
- Income Support,
- Income-based Job Seekers' allowance,
- Any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance
- Child Tax Credit but not Working Tax Credit, and your annual income, as assessed by the Inland Revenue, is below £15,860, or
- Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit with an income below the threshold for receipt of maximum Working Tax Credit, currently set by the Government at £6,420
- Guaranteed Pension Credit
- Support under Part VI - Immigration & Asylum Act 1999,
Pupils aged 16 - 18 are eligible for free school meals / clothing grants in their own right if they are in receipt of one of the above benefits.
Pupils who are eligible to apply for an Education Maintenance Allowance may apply for Free School Meals under the above conditions, but can not apply for a Clothing Grant.
Can a child attending Nursery get a clothing grant?
No. The earliest stage your child can get a grant is after he / she has enrolled for P1. The grant will not be paid earlier than the April of the year he / she starts P1.
Can a child receiving an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) also get a clothing grant?
No. Pupils who are of school leaving age should apply for an EMA rather than a Clothing Grant.
How do I apply?
You can either complete the online form, download an application form (word format), or simply ask for an application form which may be obtained from schools or from the Payments Section of the Council's Finance and ICT Services Tel: 01343 563144 .
Please note that an application form with larger font size is also available
When submitting a claim, please note that
- Separate claim forms should be completed if your children attend different schools
- Claims will not be backdated, and will only come into force once the school has received the assessed form
- Only one clothing grant per year per child will be awarded.
- The Clothing Grant Scheme runs from 1 April to 31 March (financial year).
- Clothing grant applications cannot be processed during the summer school holidays.
- Free school meals cease when you stop receiving any of the benefits listed above.
It is your responsibility to inform the School or Education & Social Care of any change in circumstances.
How is the clothing grant paid?
The grant is paid directly by cheque to the parent or guardian who has signed the application form
