Help with school costs

Who can get help with school costs

If you're a parent or a person with parental responsibilities for a child, you might be able to get help with school costs.

The help you’re able to get will depend on your circumstances and the child’s age.

If your child is at a private school, you should contact the school to find out if any financial help is available.

Getting free school meals

Some children in Scotland are entitled to free school meals. This means they can get school lunches for free during term-time if they go to a local council school.

All children in Primary 1 to 5 can get free school meals.

Children in Primary 6 and 7 can get free school meals if their family gets the Scottish Child Payment or other benefits.

A child might be entitled to free school meals in secondary school if their family receives certain benefits or is experiencing financial hardship.

You can check if your child can get free school meals on mygov.scot.

Free school meals at early learning and childcare

If your child gets free early learning and childcare, they can get a free school meal on the days they go.  

This free meal doesn’t need to be lunch. It could be breakfast or dinner instead. 

Getting free milk or healthy snacks

Each local council can decide if schools in their area give free milk to children. Some councils give free milk to all children. Others only give it to certain age groups. 

To find out if your child gets free milk, ask the school or your local council. You can find your council's contact details on mygov.scot.

Your pre-school child might get free milk and a healthy snack at their nursery or child-minder. The nursery or child-minder has to be part of the local council's milk and healthy snack scheme. 

Help with school uniform costs

The school clothing grant can help with the cost of your child’s school uniform. It’s paid once per year before the new school year starts.

You might be able to get:

• £120 for each primary school pupil

• £150 for each secondary school pupil.

Eligibility for the grant is decided by your local council. 

You can find more about school clothing grants on mygov.scot.

Help travelling to and from school

Your child might be able to get help travelling to and from school if they:

• can't walk to school for medical reasons or because they're disabled

• live beyond walking distance of the school

• live within walking distance of the school but couldn't reasonably be expected to get to the school without free transport

• cannot go to a school in their catchment area.

Some local councils might have more generous schemes. You should check with your local council to find out how your local scheme works.

Assistance can also be given for help with ferry, taxi or other transport, for example in remote areas or for disabled children. 

You can read more about free school transport on mygov.scot. 

If your child can't get free school transport from the local council, they might be able to get a bus to school instead. All children can travel on the bus for free.

Young people can also get cheaper train tickets and ferry tickets in Scotland. Read more about help with travel costs for younger people.

Get help with equipment and activities

If equipment or an activity is part of the school curriculum, the school must provide it free of charge.  

The school can charge for articles or materials which pupils want to keep, such as items of woodwork or cooking. 

Activities not part of the curriculum

If you're being asked to pay for something which is part of the curriculum, you should contact the school and then the local council to see if the problem can be resolved.  

Local councils often have wide discretion to offer grants to help pupils access activities not part of the curriculum. They might have grants to help with: 

• cookery and handicraft materials

• going to interviews

• music tuition

• sports equipment

• school journeys

• swimming lessons.

You might be asked to contribute to the cost of some activities, for example school visits. 

Free books from Bookbug

You can get free books for your child from the Bookbug scheme. Bookbug is run by the Scottish Book Trust and is open to all children in Primary 1-3.

You can read more about Bookbug on the Scottish Book Trust website.

Check what benefits and grants you can get

If you're finding it difficult to meet the costs of education, you should check if you're entitled to any social security benefits.

Claiming benefits might also let you get access to other help.

You might be able to claim benefits or increase your current benefits if you’re:

• over 16 years old with a low income or no income

• sick or disabled, including if you have a mental health condition

• of State Pension age with a low income or no income

• a carer

• responsible for children.

Check what benefits you can get.

Scottish Child Payment

If you or your partner get certain benefits, you might be able to get the Scottish Child Payment for a child under 16. 

It’s paid every 4 weeks by Social Security Scotland. Check if you can get the Scottish Child Payment. 

School Age Payment

If you or your partner get certain benefits, you might be able to get the Best Start Grant School Age Payment. 

You need to be on a low income and to apply around the time that your child might normally start school or just afterwards. Check if you can get the School Age Payment. 

If you're getting the Scottish Child Payment, when your child is old enough Social Security Scotland will check if you can get a Best Start Grant School Age Payment. 

Education Maintenance Allowance

If you're on a low income and your child is aged 16 to 19, they might be able to get an Education Maintenance Allowance. 

Education Maintenance Allowance is a weekly payment to help with the costs of staying in school or college. It’s paid by the local council. 

You can read more about Education Maintenance Allowance on mygov.scot.

Get free period products

All pupils can get free period products from their school or college during term time. 

There is information about how you can get free period products on mygov.scot.

Leaving school and going to college or university

If you decide to leave school but want to go to college or university, you can attend a full-time course at a Scottish college or university for free as long as you have the entrance requirements.

Find out more about budgeting and funding for students on the Student Information Scotland website.

Special needs at college or university

If you have special needs, for example you use a wheelchair, and are planning to attend college or university, you'll have to find out what facilities there are.  

All colleges and universities must have an accessibility strategy to make sure they don't discriminate against you. Read more about discrimination because of a disability.

Other sources of help

There might be other sources of help available to you. The help you can get might depend on your income or your circumstances. 

School funds

The school may have funds that can be used for help with certain items, or it may keep stocks of second-hand uniforms. You should contact the school for further information.

Help from charities

Some charities give parents grants to help with the costs of education.

These charities often have a limited amount of money and have very specific criteria which you must meet to get a grant. For example, you might have to live in a particular area or belong to a particular religion.