Parents who are struggling on a low income could be entitled to help worth up to £350 toward the cost of school uniform.
The free support is provided as a cash grant by all councils in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and some in England.
The help isn’t a statutory requirement in England, which means councils don’t have to offer the support and parents face a postcode lottery for the help.
The eligibility criteria also varies - but generally speaking, those who claim free school meals, are on low incomes or claim benefits are most likely to qualify.
Some councils also take the school age of your child into account.
A school uniform costs £101.19 per child in secondary school on average, according to a retailer survey by The Schoolwear Association.
How do I claim a school uniform grant?
I live in England: School uniform grants aren’t compulsory in England and sadly, dozens of authorities have slashed funding in recent years.
Last year, around 30 councils in England offered the support in some capacity, according to MoneySavingExpert.
For example, Islington Council offers £150 if your child is moving from year 6 to secondary school (year 7) if they get free school meals.
If you’re a resident covered by Tower Hamlets Council, you could get £110 if your child is moving from year 6 to secondary school and you claim certain benefits.
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Or if you live in North Lincolnshire, you could get £20 if your child is at primary school, or £30 if they're at secondary school.
If you’re not sure who your local council is, enter your postcode on the Gov.uk website.
I live in Scotland: All councils in Scotland offer school uniform grants worth at least £120 if your child is in primary school, and £150 if they are in secondary school.
Councils can choose to pay more than this.
For example, Shetland Islands Council can provide a grant worth £150 if your child is in early years, £180 for primary school children and £225 if your child is in secondary school.
The eligibility criteria varies between councils but again, in most cases you need to be claiming free school meals or benefits.
Most councils will accept applications from July until the end of March, with most payments made in July or August before the new school year.
Visit MyGov.scot for more information.
I live in Wales: All councils in Wales offer school uniform grants worth £225, or £300 if your child is going into secondary school.
The Welsh Government has upped the payments by £100 for one year only to offer extra help to families during the cost of living crisis.
The 2022/23 scheme will close on June 30, 2023 so you only have a few days left to apply.
The 2023/24 scheme will then open on July 1, 2023.
Again, each council sets its own eligibility criteria and you normally need to be on a low income or claiming certain benefits.
Find more information on Gov.Wales.
I live in Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland families can get up to £93.60 to put toward school uniform costs where a child is 15 years of age or over on August 1, 2023
Secondary school pupils under the age of 15 can claim £87.60, while the grant is worth £42.90 for primary school pupils.
Applications for the 2023/24 year are not yet available, with parents advised to keep checking the Education Authority website for updates.
To be eligible for the school uniform grant, you need to be claiming certain benefits.
Other ways to get help with school uniform
If your local authority doesn’t offer a school uniform grant, it’s worth speaking to your school to see what help they can offer.
For example, some may be able to offer you a reduction or some other financial support through the Household Support Fund.
Some charities also offer grants to help cover the costs of school uniform - although again, you'll normally need to be on a low income or claim benefits.
Turn2Us has a free grants search tool so you can find out what help is available to you.
It is also worth keeping an eye on local buy and sell Facebook groups for other parents selling school uniform.
