Glenrothes High School

Poverty Proofing our School/Cost of the School Day

Poverty-proofing the school day is considering how policies and practices can impact on children and young people on a low income and how this effects their experience of the school day. Solutions may not necessarily cost money but may, for example, require schools or education services to do something differently. In every school in Scotland, more and more parents, carers and families are struggling on low incomes meaning that many of our children are locked out of opportunities to participate, learn and thrive. At Glenrothes High School, we must enable all of our children to take full and equal advantage of opportunities and consider how to reduce the extra costs for parents and carers.

Please take a look at 'The Cost of the School Day' Toolkit, a document produced by the Child Poverty Action Group Scotland.
Cost of the School Day Toolkit PDF icon

Please take a look at our Glenrothes High School Cost of the School Day Position Statement - which details how we are trying to help families in our Community.

 'GHS Cost of the School Day Position Statement' PDF icon

Extract from Parent , Carer school trip template letter PDF icon

 

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Free School Meals & School Clothing Grants

Free School Meals and School Clothing Grants 2019/2020

We can provide free school meals and a school clothing grant of £100.00 per child if you are on a low income.

To qualify for free schools meals and school clothing grant you must be in receipt of one of the following:

  • Income Support
  • Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based)
  • Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related)
  • Child Tax Credit only with annual income below £16,105
  • Child Tax Credit & Working Tax Credit with annual income below £6900
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999
  • Universal Credit including those with a take home of pay of up to £610 per month
  • Long Term Incapacity Benefit (school clothing grant only)
  • Widows Allowance if not in full time employment (school clothing grant only)
  • Child Tax Credit & Working Tax Credit with annual income below £16,105 (school clothing grant only

If you don’t meet this criteria but your child is in P1-3, they can still receive free school meals. Free school milk will only be given if the above criteria is met.

How to Apply

Apply online

If you don’t have access to a PC or mobile device with an internet connection, you can use:


If you need help completing the application form you can contact us

  • Online: www.fifedirect.org.uk/contactrevenues; or
  • Tel: 03451 55 11 55


Once you have made an application you will need to provide evidence to support your claim. This should be the most up to date, original, award letter for the benefit you receive.

The options for providing evidence are:

  • upload; or
  • hand in to your local office by appointment; or
  • send to the Benefits and Council Tax team at the address below.


You don't need to provide evidence of income if you already receive:

  • Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Reduction.

Payment of School Clothing Grants

The earliest date a school clothing grant will be paid is 13thJune 2019 thereafter payments will be made on weekly basis.

Reporting Changes

If your child/children receive free school meals. You must notify us of any changes to your household details, for example, if:

  • you change address
  • your child changes school
  • your child leaves school


Report a change


For more information on Free School Meals and School Clothing Grants contact the Benefits and Council Tax Enquiries Team:


For more information on Managing Your Benefits, Living on a Budget or Help to Find Work, please see our Benefits Section:  www.fifedirect.org.uk/benefits

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Education Maintenance Allowance 

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is a weekly payment of £30 for young people who are planning to continue in post-compulsory education.

Eligibility

  • Pupils born between 1stMarch 2000 and 30thSeptember 2003 may be eligible for an award starting in August 2019.
  • Pupils born between 1stOctober 2003 and 29thFebruary 2004 may be eligible for an award starting in January 2020.  Pupils eligible from January 2020 do not need to wait until January to submit their application form.


The taxable household income between April 2018 and April 2019 determines the award:

  • Income of up to £24,421 (for families with a single dependant child) - £30
  • Income of up to £26,884 (for families with more than one dependant child) - £30


Dependant children are all those up to the age of 16, and those over the age of 16 and up to the age of 25 if they are in full time or higher education courses.

If there is a significant change in financial circumstances within the household since financial year 2018/19, you may be eligible to apply for an in-year reassessment during the current academic year.

This is possible where income for the current financial year has fallen from over £24,421 or £26,884 to within the EMA thresholds.  Any award made will be classed as provisional.

All payments are paid directly into the pupils’ bank account, normally on a fortnightly basis.

EMA is paid in addition to other support and benefits provided by the government.  No one will lose out on any other money if the pupil is in receipt of an EMA.  It will not affect the parent’s Child Benefit or any money the pupil earns from a part-time job.

The pupil must attend all their course sessions and sign an EMA Learning Agreement with their school.  This agreement details what is expected of them in terms of attendance, coursework and progress.

How to apply?

Apply Here

If you don’t have access to a PC or mobile device with an internet connection, you can use:


If you need help completing the application form you can contact us

  • Online: www.fifedirect.org.uk/contactrevenues; or
  • Tel: 03451 55 11 55


If eligible from August 2019, the application will only be backdated to the 14th of August 2019 if received by 30th September 2019 otherwise the EMA will start from the date the application is received.

If eligible from January 2020, the application will only be backdated to 8th January 2020 if received by 28th February 2020 otherwise the EMA will start from the date the application is received.

EMA recipients are required to complete a new application each academic year.

No applications for session 2019/20 will be processed after 31st March 2020.

PLEASE NOTE:  The above information is only applicable to pupils attending school or being Home Educated in Fife.  This information in not relevant for young people attending school in England, Ireland or Wales.  If you require information regarding an EMA for attending College please contact the College you will be attending.

EMA Team, PO BOX 18015, Glenrothes, KY7 5YJ 
Tel: 03451 55 11 55 Contact EMA Team, PO BOX 18015, Glenrothes, KY7 5YJ online 


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