Welsh Government to give £100 to struggling families for school PE kits
The payment is to help amidst the worsening cost of living crisis
Last updated 14th Mar 2022
The Welsh Government has announced that it will help struggling families when paying for school clothes such as kits for physical education.
Eligible families will be able to receive a one-off payment of £100 for their children's kits thanks to the Pupil Development Grant.
In total, £13 million has been allocated by the Government in Wales to help families struggling to pay the bills manage to make ends meet.
The Grant had recently been extended to all pupils across school years who simultaneously qualified for free school meals. The provision for free school meals has also been extended through the Easter holidays, meaning children will not go without food.
At a total cost of £21.4 million, the Welsh Government said it was expanding the eligibility to combat the growing cost of living crisis in the UK.
Speaking about the initiative, Welsh education minister Jeremy Miles said the expansion would help to benefit those who are struggling most.
"In the midst of this Tory cost of living crisis, household budgets are under significant pressure and many parents will be worried about how they can afford the things their children need for school," he said.
"Those families in receipt of the PDG Access Grant will already be using the £200 to help pay for their children's school uniform. This extra payment will help cover other costs, such as PE kits, school shoes and other equipment, helping household budgets go a little bit further.
"I'm pleased we can provide a bit more help to families at this difficult time and remove some of the financial barriers to education."
However, Welsh Conservatives have hit back at the change in guidance, saying that the move meant the ruling Welsh Labour Party was "anti-aspiration, anti-jobs and anti-opportunity".