Financing your child’s education – pre-school and school

Your child’s education is vitally important but doesn’t come cheap. From the age of three or four, they’ll enter the education system and may still be studying by the time they’re in their early to mid twenties. Further and higher education fees for college and university students can be expensive, and on top of that there are your child’s living and accommodation costs to consider if they are studying away from home. Even before they reach this stage, learning is an expensive business. Although there are no education fees for schooling (unless you decide to send your child to a private fee-paying school) there are plenty of costs involved in sending your child to school – you’ll have to buy school uniforms and equipment and pay for their transport, for example. However, if you’re finding it difficult to afford your child’s education essentials, there are various ways in which you can obtain financial assistance. Read on to find out. (This article applies to England and Wales only.)

Free pre-school places

Your child is entitled to at least 12.5 hours per week of free pre-school education for 38 weeks of the year from the age of three or four. You can choose from a variety of options where to send your child, such as a pre-school nursery, a private nursery, a pre-school playgroup, a primary school reception class or a childminder qualified to deliver pre-school learning. All of these places must be approved and they are regulated by government inspectors to ensure a high quality of education. Although the place is free, you’ll have to pay for any costs or fees above the level of entitlement.

School education

Food
Every child between the age of five and 16 is entitled to free primary and secondary education in a state school. However, there are additional costs associated with sending your child to school, such as transport if you don’t live within walking distance, their school uniform and meals. You can get help with these costs if you are on a low income and/or receiving other benefits, though.

School meals nowadays have to meet certain nutritional standards, so you can be sure that what your child eats at school is reasonably healthy. Menus at schools must now consist of good quality meat and fish on a regular basis, as well as healthy carbohydrates such as bread and potatoes and also fruit and vegetables. Fried food and sugary or fatty snacks such as crisps and chocolate must be kept to a minimum.

You could be eligible for your child to receive free school meals if you’re on Jobseekers Allowance or Income Support or receiving child tax credit. It’s the local authority that manages school meal provision, so if you think you might be entitled to free meals for your child, get in touch with them to apply.

Some primary schools also offer subsidised milk to children. If your child’s school provides milk and your child is entitled to free school meals, they will also qualify to receive milk for free.

All children aged between four and six in state schools are entitled to a free daily portion of fruit and vegetables, so your child will receive this regardless of your financial situation.

Clothing
School uniforms can be expensive, especially blazers, and children grow out of them so quickly, so it can seem as if you’re constantly buying them new school clothes. If you’re on a low income, you could qualify for assistance in purchasing your child’s school clothing by means of a grant or voucher. This should include their uniform as well as any PE equipment that they are expected to wear. The system and entitlement varies from area to area as it is managed by the local authority, so get in touch with your council to find out whether you might be eligible.

Transport
If the nearest suitable school to where you live is not within walking distance of your home (within two miles if your child is under eight and within three miles if they are over eight), your child may be eligible to receive free transport provided by the school. They may also be eligible for free transport if they are disabled or have special educational needs. These rules apply to all children aged between five and 16. Children over 16 may in some circumstances be entitled to free school transport too. Contact your local authority to find out.

Costs for 16 to 19 year olds
If your child decides to stay on at school after the minimum school leaving age but you are on a low income and struggling to cope, your child could be eligible for a grant known as an Education Maintenance Allowance or EMA. It’s available to children who stay on at school for a sixth form or who go on to further education college or vocational training and whose parents meet certain criteria regarding their income. It provides an allowance of up to £30 per week (this amount varies according to parental income) and is paid directly into your child’s bank account.

You’re still entitled to claim Child Benefit for children over 16 if they are under 19 and still in full-time education. In fact, you can still claim benefit after they turn 19 if they still have a course to complete – in which case you can pick up Child Benefit for them until they either finish their course or turn 20, whichever is sooner.

This article is in two parts. See the next article in the series (‘Financing Your Child’s Education – Higher Education’) for information on university-age children.

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