A COUNCIL that asks parents to fill in a 16-page form for school uniform grants has defended its practices.
Applicants for the clothing allowance, worth £100, are also required to provide nine pieces of supporting evidence.
The revelation is included in a new report on hidden costs in the education system.
The Child Poverty Action Group Scotland (CPAG) says complex forms are a “barrier” for low-income families and could mean some children miss out on entitlements.
But Moray Council dismissed the criticism, telling The National that the application process, which was brought in last year, has led to great take-up of the statutory grant.
A spokesperson said: “The school uniform clothing grant application uses the same form which residents would use to claim housing benefit, council tax reduction or free school meals.
“We ask that residents fill out the form so that we can then assess which benefits they are entitled to. This could mean multiple awards from one application form, which an applicant may not realise they’re entitled to.
“In fact the uptake for free school meals and clothing grants has increased since we introduced the combined form last year.”
However, CPAG, which is campaigning to lower the cost of the school day, says other councils have simplified the application process for struggling parents. In Glasgow, the council uses data already held on families receiving housing benefit to increase the number of youngsters allocated the clothing cash, which helps to pay for trousers, ties, shoes and more.
Sara Spencer, manager of CPAG’s Cost of the School
Day project, said: “The process for applying for financial entitlements like clothing grants and free meals vary from local authority to local authority.
“What we know across the board is that there isn’t the perfect uptake from every family eligible to apply.
“Difficult forms are absolutely a barrier to claiming anything.
“These entitlements can make a really big difference.”
In her report, Dr Morag Treanor of Stirling University found difficulties in affording school uniforms – particularly shoes – is “a constant feature of life” for low-income families in work, who are not entitled to school clothing grants.
And because the sum given does not cover the full £129.50 cost of the average school kit, the same is true for recipients.
Trips, clubs and acitivities increase costs for parents.
She said: “There is much that has been done to facilitate poorer children’s participation in school-related activities.
“However, there is more that can be done.
“Research shows that children are acutely aware of the deprivations they experience in relation to school.
“Parents are also aware of children’s school-related privations and do their best to prevent and mitigate the negative impacts.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here