AQW 24350/17-22 Written question to the Minister of Education

To ask the Minister of Education whether her Department is looking at the cost of adaptions for special educational need pupils' uniforms as part of the review of the school uniform grant.

Asked by Kellie Armstrong MLA on 15 October 2021

  • Answered
  • Written
  • After due date
Tabled
15 October 2021
Answer due by
1 November 2021
Answered
3 November 202119 days after tabling
Department
Department of Education
Priority question
No

Answer

The school uniform grant provides a financial contribution towards the cost of school uniforms for low income families with children in primary, postprimary and special schools (not nursery). It is not designed to cover the cost of an entire uniform.

Work has begun within the Department on a review of the free school meals (FSM) and uniform grant eligibility criteria. The review will, among other issues, identify and develop the options for eligibility for Uniform Grants and consider the current rate of Uniform Grant as a contribution to the actual cost of uniforms.

As part of this review, a wide range of stakeholders will be consulted and issues, such as the one you have described, will be considered.

Official sources