PARENTS and guardians in Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham could be eligible for £125 towards their school uniforms.

Preparing for the new school year can be an expensive task for parents.

With books, pens bags and shoes, the cost of school uniforms can set families back a considerable amount.

But parents and guardians of schoolchildren might be able to access a publicly-funded grant to help towards the costs of clothing children through education years.

In Wales, all councils provide a £125 grant towards uniform and sports kit costs to qualifying families.

The Welsh Government-funded Pupil Development Grant can be used to buy school uniform, equipment, sports kit and kit for activities outside of school for your child.

New school years are now eligible and criteria has been extended to include laptops or tablets.

Learners eligible for free school meals can apply for this grant if they are:

  • In reception class at primary school
  • In school years 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11
  • In a special school, special needs resource base or pupil referral unit and are aged 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15

For Year 7 learners the grant is £200, recognising the increased costs associated with starting secondary school.

Families are only entitled to claim once per child, per school year.

Funding for the 2020 to 2021 scheme is available until June 30. The new scheme for 2021 to 2022 will be open from July 15.

To apply for this grant parents and guardians need to contact local authority.

Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham councils are expected to open applications for the grants for the 2021/22 school year in mid July.

Flintshire Council's website explains who is eligible for the grants.

In order to be eligible to apply, parents must already be in receipt of, or applying for Free School Meals based on the following income:

  • Income Support,
  • Income Based Jobseekers Allowance,
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999,
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance,
  • Child Tax Credit,
  • Provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and their annual income does not exceed £16,190,
  • Guarantee element of State Pension Credit,
  • Working Tax Credit 'run-on' - the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit or Universal Credit.
  • Universal credit (if earned income is included in the assessment of UC it must be less than £616.66)

To check if you are eligible for a grant visit your local authorities website: