School Essentials ( PDG Access)
If your child already gets free school meals, there could be more help available for School Essentials (PDG Access). Check if you’re eligible for help with school essentials.
The Pupil Development Grant (PDG) grant provides financial assistance to families on low incomes for the purchase of:
- School uniform including coats and shoes;
- School sports kit including footwear;
- Uniform for enrichment activities, including but not limited to, scouts; guides; cadets; martial arts; sports; performing arts or dance;
- Equipment e.g. school bags and stationery;
- Specialist equipment where new curriculum activities begin such as design and technology;
- Equipment for out of school hours trips such as outdoor learning e.g. waterproofs;
- IT equipment - laptops and tablets only. You will need to confirm that your child’s school cannot loan them a laptop/tablet for use at home.
Funding of up to £125 is available to each eligible child, with the exception of those in Year 7 who are entitled to £200.
Who is eligible?
Funding is available to pupils who are eligible for Free School Meals in year groups Reception to Year 11.
The funding is also available to all looked-after children of compulsory school age. Looked after children (LAC) means children in public care, who are placed with foster carers, in residential homes or with parents or other relatives through an Act of Court.
School Essentials (PDG Access) Grant payments will be made automatically to those families whose Free School Meal (FSM) details on file provide sufficient information for approval. Payments will be made during July.
Please note that pupils receiving Free School Meals due to Transitional Protection and pupils leaving Year 11 in July 2023 are NOT eligible for School Essentials (PDG Access) Grant payments.
Please also note that pupils moving into Reception and Year 7 in September 2023 will need to submit an application for School Essentials (PDG Access) Grant payments via the following link, which will be available from Monday July 3rd onwards. Payments for those pupils eligible for the grant will be made as soon as possible.
Education & Schools
Bilingual education
Find a school
School Admissions and Changing Schools
- Information and guidance for parents
- Apply for a part-time nursery place (3-year olds)
- Apply for a full-time primary school place (4-years olds)
- Apply for a secondary school place (11-year olds)
- Changing schools in the middle of an academic term or year
- Appeals: What to do if you've been refused a school place
- Catchment areas
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Policies
Additional Learning Needs
- Educational & child psychology
- Specialist provision
- Ability to learn
- Reading and writing
- Number or maths
- Motor Skills
- Speech, Language & Communication
- Severe Learning Difficulties
- Hearing Loss
- Visual Impairment
- Physical and medical problems
- Autism
- English/Welsh as an Additional Language
- Behavioural, Emotional and Social Skills
- Gypsies and Travellers
- Concentration
- Parent Partnership Service
- Voice of the child / young person
- Terminology Guide
- Early Years
- Additional learning needs: Decision-making process
School transport
Emergency school closures
Home schooling - Elective Home Education (EHE)
Adult learning
- English GCSE for adults
- Maths GCSE for adults
- British Sign Language
- ESOL
- Essential skills in Maths and English
- Digital Literacy Skills
- Information for learners
School term dates
Road safety
School meals
- Primary school meals
- Secondary school meals
- Free school meals
- Free breakfast / school milk
- Special diets, allergies and intolerances
- How we source our produce
- Nutritional standards for school meals
- School meals FAQ's
ParentPay
Pendine Outdoor Education Centre
Youth Support
- Duke of Edinburgh Award
- College provision for year 11’s
- Not in education or employment?
- Cynnydd
- Cam Nesa
Participation and children's rights
School sport & leisure
Financial Support
School budgets
School governors
Carmarthenshire's Modernising Education Programme
- Primary School Investment
- Secondary School Investment
- Consultation
- BREEAM categories
- Sustainable design - BREEAM
- Schools in Development
- Welsh Government Focused Grants
Education Sir Gâr 2022-2032
- Why do we need this strategy?
- Vision to 2032
- Our desired outcomes 2022-2032
- Link to well-being objectives
- Policy background
Our behaviour impacts everything and everyone
Attendance Matters
More from Education & Schools
