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 Access scheme for the 2022/2023 academic year will be raised for one year only by £100 per learner based on current eligibility status for free school meals. Therefore, the total funding of up to £225 is available for each eligible learner except for those pupils entering Year 7 who will be entitled to a maximum of £300.
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 hour’s 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.
Who is eligible?
Funding is available to pupils who are eligible for free school meals entering the following school years for the current academic year (2022/2023):
- Reception class (D.O.B 1st September 2017 – 31st August 2018)
- Year 1 (D.O.B 1st September 2016 – 31st August 2017)
- Year 2 (D.O.B 1st September 2015 – 31st August 2016)
- Year 3 (D.O.B 1st September 2014 – 31st August 2015)
- Year 4 (D.O.B 1st September 2013 – 31st August 2014)
- Year 5 (D.O.B 1st September 2012 – 31st August 2013)
- Year 6 (D.O.B 1st September 2011 – 31st August 2012)
- Year 7 (D.O.B 1st September 2010 – 31st August 2011)
- Year 8 (D.O.B 1st September 2009 – 31st August 2010)
- Year 9 (D.O.B 1st September 2008 – 31st August 2009)
- Year 10 (D.O.B 1st September 2007 – 31st August 2008)
- Year 11 (D.O.B 1st September 2006 – 31st August 2007)
- Pupils in special schools, special needs resource bases and pupil referral units who are aged 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14 or 15 when entering in September 2022
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.
Closing date for applications for this academic school year (2022/2023) is 26th May 2023
We are experiencing an exceptionally high volume of applications. Please bear with us whilst we verify and process your application. This will be done as soon as possible. If there are any queries that need further information, you will be contacted by a member of the team. Please do not submit a second application for the same pupil as this will result in a query being raised and a delay in payment.
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
- Additional learning needs: Decision-making process
- Terminology Guide
School transport
Emergency school closures
Home schooling - Elective Home Education (EHE)
Adult learning
- English GCSE for adults
- Maths GCSE for adults
- British Sign Language
- Information for learners
- ESOL
- Essential skills in Maths and English
- Digital Literacy Skills
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
More from Education & Schools
