Clothing grant and free school meals 2025/2026

APPLICATIONS FOR 2025/2026 ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED.  WE EXPECT THE FIRST CLOTHING GRANT PAYMENT WILL BE RELEASED WEEK ENDING 27TH JUNE 2025.  WE KINDLY ASK THAT YOU DO NOT SEND REPEATED ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF YOUR APPLICATION AS THIS DELAYS OUR PROCESSING TIME.  PLEASE NOTE: YOU WILL BE UNABLE TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION UNLESS YOU ATTACH THE EVIDENCE THAT YOU QUALIFY UNDER ONE OF THE CRITERIA LISTED BELOW.
IF YOU WISH TO APPLY FOR FREE MEALS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR ENDING 27TH JUNE 2025, PLEASE CONTACT EDUCATION SERVICES ON 01475 712850 - OPTION 2 FOR ASSISTANCE.

Who can apply for a clothing grant and free school meals?

For August 2025, all children in P1-P7 automatically receive a free school meal.

However, if you wish to be considered for the clothing grant, or your child is or will be in S1 – S6, you must submit an application form. 

Please note we cannot accept applications without evidence that you meet one of the categories below.  Please read the guidance available on this page detailing how you can obtain evidence if you do not have it to hand.  All evidence submitted with the application must be complete as we are unable to accept partial documents.  

Please ensure you have notified your child's school of any change of address or circumstances as differences will delay payment of your clothing grant.

Please note: Clothing grant for pupils who reach the age of 16 before 1st October will not be paid until August, after the schools return from the summer break.

You may qualify for a clothing grant if one of the following statements apply to your family circumstance. 

You are currently in receipt of:

  • Income Support (IS);
  • Income Based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA);
  • Any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA);
  • Universal Credit (UC), where your take home pay does not exceed £1,244;

or       

  • you are seeking asylum and receiving support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999;

or

  • you look after a child/children as part of a formal Kinship Care agreement, registered by Social Work Services.