Footwear and Clothing Grants
Parents receiving Universal Credit will normally be entitled to grants for footwear and clothing for their children. Universal Credit claimants’ monthly income must not exceed £660.00, however, some parents earning more than this may still be eligible.
Parents who receive Income Support, Income based Job Seeker’s Allowance, any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance, Support under part V1 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, Child Tax Credit only (with income under £17,005), both Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit (with an income up to £7,920) may also still be entitled to grants for footwear and clothing for their children.
Parents who may be unsure whether they can apply should contact the Council Contact Centre on 01294 310000 or the Council’s Welfare Reform Team on 0300 99 4606 for further advice. Information and application forms may be obtained from schools.
Free School Meals
Children of parents receiving Universal Credit (claimants’ monthly income must not exceed £660.00), Income Support, Income based Job Seeker’s Allowance, any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance, Support under part V1 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, both Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit (with an income up to £7,920) are entitled to a free midday meal and free milk. Parents and Carers should contact 01294 310000 for further information.
Please Note: ALL pupils in P1-5 are entitled to a free school meal, which includes milk.
Other than P1-P5 pupils, only those children whose parents receive job seeker’s allowance or income support will be entitled to free milk. Milk may however be available for purchase in the school during the lunch period.
Further information can be found here: https://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/education-and-learning/grants-and-allowances/footwear-clothing-and-free-school-meals.aspx
Pupils are supplied with a menu in advance and we encourage you to discuss this with your child before school and pre-order their lunch options on the iPay site.
You are welcome to provide your child with a packed lunch if you prefer and we encourage pupils to make healthy choices and eat a balanced diet. We request that pupils do not bring in cans or bottles of fizzy or isotonic juice to drink and that take-away food is not provided as a packed lunch.
School Transport
North Ayrshire Council has a policy of providing free transport to all pupils who live more than two miles walking distance from their catchment primary school or three or more miles from their catchment secondary school using the shortest suitable walking route. In addition, free transport may also be provided for whole or part of the journey between a pupil’s main address and school (or other educational establishment) when the criteria outlined in section 4 of the School Transport Policy is met:
https://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/Forms/EducationalServices/free-school-transport.docx
Applications for mainstream transport are made by parents and carers using North Ayrshire Council’s Transport Hub transport system. Applications may be submitted throughout the year and should be made as soon as confirmation of a place at a catchment establishment has been received. Please note free school transport will not be provided following a successful placing request. If you believe your child may require transport for another reason, please review the entitlement criteria in the School Transport Policy under Section 4 (https://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/Documents/EducationalServices/school-transport-policy.pdf) before discussing this with the school.
If places are available and no additional costs is incurred by the local authority, it may be possible to apply for privilege seat in transport provided by the authority, please liaise with North Ayrshire Transport Hub for further information (transporthub@north-ayrshire.gov.uk / 01294 541613). Where free transport is provided it may be necessary for pupils to walk a short distance to the vehicle pick-up point. Walking distance in total, including the distance from home to the pick-up point and from the drop-off point to the school in any one direction, will not exceed the Council’s limits (see above section). It is the parents’ responsibility to ensure that their child arrives at the pick-up point on time. It is also the parents’ responsibility to ensure that their child behaves in a safe and acceptable manner while boarding, travelling in and leaving the vehicle. Misbehaviour can result in children losing the right to free transport. Please see attached link to the Council’s School Transport Policy:
https://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/Documents/EducationalServices/school-transport-policy.pdf)
