Fully digital application process for School Clothing Grant and Free School Meals for 2020/21 session

Date: 
Monday, 13 July, 2020


A streamlined and fully digital application process for Free School Meals and School Clothing Grants is now open for the 2020/21 school session, beginning in August 2020.

Joint Council Leader, Vaughan Moody explains, “Building on the approach we introduced to provide food vouchers to those entitled to free school meals during the Covid-19 lockdown, we have simplified the approach for applicants, and parents/carers can now apply for both free school meals and school clothing grants on one online form for all eligible children in their household.  All the supporting documents can be uploaded to the form before it is submitted.

“We will now also pay school clothing grants directly in to bank accounts, removing the need to issue cheques once applications have been verified.  Our new, streamlined approach will ensure that the grant is immediately accessible to those awarded, once the verification process is complete.”

The qualifying criteria for free school meals is set by Scottish Government and for school clothing grants set by the local education authority.  These were aligned earlier this year when the Council introduced food vouchers and they will remain aligned going forward with the same income threshold for both entitlements.

One online application form, available at both free-school-meals and school-clothing-grant will be used for:

  • Free school meals 
  • Free early years meals for nursery children
  • School clothing grants for school children

Joint Council Leader Andrew Polson added, “In our new, streamlined process, parents can now add all entitle children on to one application form whatever stage of early years or school they are at.And with the Covid-19 pandemic still impacting much of our lives, including the postal system, direct payments in to bank accounts are a significant improvement.

“We are committed to supporting all those eligible to these important awards. And to ensuring that they receive the clothing grants as quickly and efficiently as possible.

“We have also committed to continue to pay food vouchers up to and including week beginning Monday 10 August, which is the week that schools return for the new 2020/21 session.”

The Scottish Government will make a decision on 30 July to confirm whether schools should return with full time attendance or a blended approach.Council plans will be confirmed after this decision is confirmed.