Can I get a grant for school uniform?

For parents on a low income who need help paying for school uniform.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

Help with school uniform costs depends on where you live.

England: GOV.UK lists no national grant, so ask your school or local council what help is available.
Wales: the School Essentials Grant pays £125 per child, or £200 for children starting year 7, for children eligible for means-tested free school meals.
Scotland: councils pay a school clothing grant of at least £120 for primary and £150 for secondary pupils.
Northern Ireland: the uniform grant is £42.90 to £67.20, plus £26.40 for PE kit at post-primary.
From September 2026, schools in England should not ask you to buy more than 3 branded items.

Key facts

Wales: £125, or £200 in year 7
Scotland: at least £120 or £150
NI: £42.90 to £67.20
England: ask school or council

What a school uniform grant is

A school uniform grant is money from your council or the government to help pay for school clothes, shoes and sometimes PE kit. Each UK nation runs its own scheme, and in England help depends on your local area.

Who it is for

Grants are mainly for families on low incomes. In Wales, eligibility is linked to means-tested free school meals. In Northern Ireland, the rules are similar to those for free school meals. In Scotland, each council decides who qualifies.

How much you can get in 2026/27

Nation	Scheme	Amount
England	No national scheme	Ask your school or council
Wales	School Essentials Grant	£125 per child (reception to year 11), or £200 for children starting year 7
Scotland	School clothing grant	At least £120 (primary) or £150 (secondary) per child
Northern Ireland	Uniform grant	£42.90 primary; £61.20 post-primary or special school under 15; £67.20 over 15
Northern Ireland	PE kit	£26.40 for post-primary or special school pupils

Example (Wales): a family has one child going into year 7 and one in year 3, both eligible for free school meals. They can get £200 plus £125, which is £325 for the school year.

Example (Northern Ireland): a post-primary pupil aged 14 can get £61.20 for uniform plus £26.40 for PE kit, which is £87.60.

How to apply

England: ask your head teacher about support, or contact your local council.
Wales: contact your local council. For 2026 to 2027, the grant opened on 1 July 2026 and closes on 31 May 2027. Children in council care qualify automatically. Universal free school meals for primary pupils do not count on their own.
Scotland: apply to your local council. Most councils accept applications from July until the end of March, and most payments are made in July or August.
Northern Ireland: apply to the Education Authority, through the same application as free school meals.

Things to know

What Wales covers: school uniform, sports kit and equipment for after-school activities, pens, pencils and school bags, laptops and tablets, and uniform for activities such as scouts, guides, cadets, sport or dance.
One payment a year: in Scotland and Northern Ireland you usually get one clothing payment each school year.
Nursery and reception: the Northern Ireland grant is not paid for nursery or reception pupils.
Cheaper uniform in England: from September 2026, schools should not make you buy more than 3 branded items (secondary schools can ask for 4 if one is a tie). Schools should also offer second-hand uniform.

Related guides

Where these figures come from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Check help with uniform costs

Common questions

Is there a school uniform grant in England?

GOV.UK does not list a national grant for England. Ask your head teacher or local council about help in your area.

When can I apply for the School Essentials Grant in Wales?

For 2026 to 2027 it opened on 1 July 2026 and closes on 31 May 2027.

How much is the Scottish school clothing grant?

At least £120 for each primary school child and £150 for each secondary school child.

Official sources

1.School uniform (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/school-uniform
2.School Essentials Grant: help with school costs (GOV.WALES)www.gov.wales/school-essentials-grant-help-school-costs
3.School clothing grants (mygov.scot)www.mygov.scot/clothing-grants
4.School uniform and uniform grants (nidirect)www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/school-uniform-and-uniform-grants

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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