Help with education costs

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On this page, you’ll find information about free school meals, help with uniform costs, school transport, EMA and the 16-19 bursary, and the Disabled Students’ Allowance.

Free school meals

If your child is not older than 16 and registered at a maintained school, academy or free school, the school’s governing body must provide a free midday meal if you claim certain benefits.

Eligible benefit claimants

These benefits include:

• Income Support.
• Income-based Job Seekers Allowance.
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
• Pension Credit (guarantee credit).
• Child Tax Credit (and you are not eligible for Working Tax Credit) with a taxable income below £16,190 (£17,005 in Scotland).
• Universal Credit (see below).

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, you also qualify if you get Working Tax Credit – but only so long as your taxable income is less than £7,920 in Scotland or £16,190 in Northern Ireland.

If you get Universal Credit, your entitlement to free school meals will depend on your earnings and where in the UK you live. Joint earnings are counted if you are part of a couple.

• England and Wales – annual net earnings must be no more than £7,400.
• Scotland – net earnings must be no more than £660 in the month before you qualify.
• Northern Ireland – annual net earnings must be no more than £14,000.

If your child receives Universal Credit in their own right, they may also qualify for free lunches while at school or college. In England a young person in non-advanced education who gets Universal Credit is entitled to free lunches up until the age of 25, so long as they have an Education, Health and Care plan.

Who else is eligible?

Even if you do not receive any of the benefits above, you are still entitled to free school meals for any child who:

• Is in reception, Year 1 or Year 2 in England or Wales.
• Is in primary school in London in the school year 2023/24.
• In Scotland, is in the first three years of primary school, or is receiving free early learnings and childcare or at some point since they turned two has been looked after or had a Kinship Care Order or had a Guardianship Order.
• In Northern Ireland is boarding at a special school or has special education needs and requires a special diet.

Contact your local authority for more information about free school meals.

Unable to access your child’s free school meal?

Many disabled children are entitled to free school meals, but struggle to access their entitlement to them
because of their disability or medical condition.

Schools have a legal duty to make “reasonable adjustments” to the way they deliver free school lunches. Use our legal guide and these template letters to ask your school for a food voucher.

School uniforms

Local authorities have discretion to help with the cost of school clothing for pupils in maintained schools. The rules vary from area to area. You’ll need to ask your education authority about the help available in your area.

In Wales, a grant for uniforms is available to pupils eligible for free school meals or who are looked after by their local authority and who are either:

• Starting reception class in primary school
• Entering Year 7 in secondary school
• Aged four or 11 and in a special school, special needs resource base or pupil referral unit, and who are also eligible for free school meals.

School transport

Local authorities may provide transport or help with the costs for eligible children and young people. Find out more about school transport.

Visiting a child at a special school

Education authorities have discretion to pay some or all of the fares of parents visiting children at a special school a long way from home.

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) – Wales and Scotland

A weekly payment for 16-18 year olds (and some 19 year olds) who stay on at school/college or who undertake certain types of unwaged training.

The amount awarded depends on parental income.

16-19 bursary – England only

There are two types of bursary. The first is a discretionary bursary for which any young person can apply. However, whether you receive a payment is at the discretion of your school or college.

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) – England only

Students with higher needs may qualify for a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) to fund specific study-related support. This might be note takers, sign language interpreters, computer equipment or additional travel expenses.

Who is eligible?

Undergraduates and postgraduate students in England can apply for DSA if they have a disability or health condition that affects their study.

This includes a learning difficulty, such as dyslexia; a neurodevelopmental condition, such as autism or ADHD; a mental health condition, such as depression; a physical or sensory disability; or a long-term health condition, such as cancer.

There is no requirement to have had an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan while at school, but the student will need to provide evidence of their disability.

Eligible students must qualify for student finance from Student Finance England, and their course must last at least one year.

How much is Disabled Students’ Allowance?

If your child is eligible for DSA, Student Finance England will invite them to book a needs assessment to determine how much help is needed. This can take some time, so it is important to apply early.

In the 2022-2023 academic year, students can get up to £25,575 a year in DSA.

How to apply

Students apply to DSA either via their Student Finance England account or using an application form, if they don’t need student finance or they study part-time.

Applicants will find out whether they’re eligible for DSA within six weeks.

Your child can talk to student support services at their college or university to get help with their application.

Find out more

For full eligibility criteria, including qualifying courses, and links to apply for DSA, visit gov.uk

For more support for disabled students in England, Disability Rights UK has a specialist student helpline as well as detailed factsheets on funding for higher education.

And visit our preparing for adult life webpages for more on support for your children as they get older.

Related information

Education & learning England

Parent information about education support for children and young people with additional needs and disabilities.

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Local support

Information about the help available in your area, from local advice organisations to parent support groups.

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