Ross urges parents to apply for Best Start Grant
North MSP Gail Ross is encouraging parents of children aged four or five to apply for the Scottish Government’s Best Start Grant.
A one-off £250 payment is open to eligible families, with a child who was born between March 1, 2015, and February 29, 2016, who will be starting primary school later this year.
The school age payment can be used for anything from a new pair of school shoes to arts and crafts materials for children.
The payment is part of the Best Start Grant, a package of three payments for families in receipt of eligible benefits – including Universal Credit and housing benefit – to help at key stages in a child’s life.
Mrs Ross, the SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, said: “Covering the costs of a child starting school can be tough on family finances, especially in the current climate.
“The Scottish Government’s school age payment offers low-income families, or those who receive support like Universal Credit, a £250 payment around the time children start at primary school.
“We’re absolutely determined that every child, regardless of circumstances, gets the best start in life. So in these unprecedented and difficult times, I’d encourage families across Caithness, Sutherland and Ross to check what other financial support they may be eligible for too – such as school clothing grants or free school meals.”