Families in Scotland have been urged to apply for a £330 one-off grant to help ease the financial pressures of a child starting primary school. Applications for the Best Start Grant school age payment opened on Monday, June 1.
The grant provides £331.95 per child and is typically available to families with children aged between four and five who are ready to start primary school. The money can be spent on anything families need, from clothes and stationery to school trips.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: "Starting school is a landmark moment in a child's life, but sadly it can also put real financial pressure on families. That's why we introduced the Best Start Grant school age payment – to help ensure that every child in Scotland can begin their school journey with what they need, regardless of their family's circumstances."
Ms Somerville added: "This support is a vital part of our wider commitment to eradicating child poverty, making sure help reaches families at key moments in a child's life."
To qualify for the Best Start Grant school age payment, the applicant must normally be receiving one of six Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits. These are: Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, Pension Credit, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
Sara Spencer, Cost of the School Day project manager, said: "We know from our work with children and families that starting school adds real pressure to already stretched family finances. That's why it's really important that families apply for the financial support, like the school age payment, that they are entitled to."
Families have until 28 February 2027 to submit their application. The payment is also open to kinship carers and adoptive parents who meet the eligibility criteria.
