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Free school meals, milk and school clothing grants

Apply for school grants

Most families who receive Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction receive school grants automatically if they meet the .

These automatic awards were made on 14 June 2024 and parents were notified by letter.

If you got an automatic award but have not received your clothing grant payment yet, this may be because we do not hold your payment details. to provide these.

Families who did not receive an automatic award can apply for school grants for the 2024-25 school year.

Apply for school grants

What you get

Families on low income can get school grants to help with the cost of lunches and school clothing.

All children in primary 1 to 5 and special schools receive free school meals, regardless of your income or benefit status. However, if you match the  on the Scottish Government website you will be eligible to receive

  • free school meals for your children in P6, P7 and in secondary school
  • payment for lunches during school holidays
  • free milk or healthy snack
  • a school clothing grant payment of £125 for each primary child and £157 for each secondary child, paid once a year into your bank account.

You can receive this for your children attending primary and secondary schools, but it is not available to children in early years settings.

School grants are valid for one school year. The entitlement ends if your child leaves school before the end of the school year. Awards start on the first day of term if you apply between June and August, otherwise your award starts on the day you apply.

We pay clothing grants between July until 31 March the following year. Only one clothing grant is paid per child.

Most clothing grants are paid throughout July and August before the new school year begins. However, if your child is above the age for compulsory education (over 16 years of age on 30 September), the clothing grant will not be paid until the school confirm they have returned after the summer holiday.

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