Free School Meals & Clothing Grant

Please be aware that some parents may be entitled to a grant to support their child with school meals and clothing. Information can be found here.

If your child is in P1 to P5

Free School Meals are offered to ALL pupils in P1 – P5 without the need for parents/carers to submit an application form. However, an application form must be completed if you also require a school clothing grant for your child in P1-P4.

Don’t forget to submit an application form for Free School Meals for your child when he/she moves into P6 as they will no longer be automatically entitled to Free School Meals. Please note that you do need to reapply each school year.

If your child is P6 or above

You can claim free school meals and a school clothing grant for your child(ren) if you are receiving:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• any income-related element of Employment and Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit, but not Working Tax Credit, with an income of less than £19,995
• both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit with an income of up to £9,552
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Universal Credit with a monthly earned income of not more than £796

If you are aged 16 to 18 years and receive any of these benefits in your own right, you can claim free school meals for yourself.

From 17 March 2025, families of Primary 6 and Primary 7 pupils who are not currently eligible for free school meals but who are in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment will now be eligible for free school meals. You can claim free school meals for Primary 6 and Primary 7 pupils by submitting an online application form and providing proof of your Scottish Child Payment

Parents/Carers in receipt of a qualifying benefit will receive an annual school clothing grant of £126 per child in primary school and £157.50 per child in secondary school.

Please note assistance with school clothing/footwear is not awarded to nursery pupils. Children aged 16 years and over who are eligible to apply for an Education Maintenance Allowance will NOT be entitled to a clothing grant.

For more information on Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit, visit the Inland Revenue website.