School Essentials Grant

If you are the parent or guardian of a child in school, you may be eligible for a grant to help to pay for essential school items.

The official name of this grant is School Essentials Grant (SEG). This is also known as the Pupil Development Grant, PDG access or Uniform grant.

The School Essentials Grant is also available for all children looked after by the local authority.

The grant amount for the current school year will be:

• £200 for children in year 7, and
• £125 for children in all other eligible years.

You can use the grant to pay for:

• school uniforms and footwear
• sports equipment and kit
• school activities, including musical lessons, school trips and after school clubs
• classroom essentials, including pens, pencils and school bags
• laptop or tablet if you cannot loan it from the school.

You are eligible if your child is receiving free school meals. You can get free school meals if you are getting one of the following:

• Universal Credit with net household earnings of less than £7400
• Guarantee element of Pension Credit 

It does not extend to pupils who receive free school meals under: 

• Universal Primary Free School Meals scheme
• The transitional protection scheme
• The expanded free school meals scheme, for those in receipt of Universal Credit with earnings above £7400 which is only for Yrs 7&8 pupils from 01 Sept 2026.

Even if your child is receiving free school meals as part of the Universal Free School Meals initiative, it is still important to check eligibility to access the School Essentials Grant and extra funding for your school.

Check other help available if you are not eligible for this grant.

You will receive a confirmation email of your application, and we will let you know what happens next.