THOUSANDS of Barnsley families are set to benefit thanks to a proposed council scheme to offer parents a voucher to pay for their child’s uniform.
The scheme is part of a £2.8m funding package to support the Great Childhood’s Ambition Strategy.
The council’s ruling cabinet members will meet next week to discuss the plans, which will see a one-off non-means-tested reimbursement for families towards the cost of a school uniform.
Secondary school children will receive a £100 voucher and primary school kids will receive a £50 voucher.
The council say that the scheme will help families across the borough.
A report states: “We recognise that school uniforms can be costly, and we aim to support families with this universal offer as part of our Every Child in School Everyday action plan through our Great Childhood’s Ambition.
“The council proposes to provide help with the cost of a school uniform through a one-off voucher to all families living in the borough with primary and secondary aged school children.
“This option supports the ‘Belong’ Great Childhood’s Ambition priority.
“It’s proposed that the non-means-tested reimbursement for school uniforms will provide £100 for secondary school children (approximately 16,000 children) and £50 for primary school children (approximately 18,000 children).
“This reimbursement will be provided (per child) to parents, carers and responsible adults.
“We are working through the details for an application process to ensure that those families living in the borough whose children are registered at a primary or secondary school outside of Barnsley can still benefit from this reimbursement.
“For the avoidance of doubt, primary and secondary schools also include specialist provision, including independent non-maintained special schools.”
A total of £2.5m is set to be spent on that scheme, while a further £300,000 will be used to support year 11 pupils.
Around 3,000 of those pupils will receive stationery items and health and wellbeing kits.
The report added: “The pack will be distributed to all secondary schools in Barnsley at no cost to families or schools.
“The purpose of the pack is to ensure all young people start their final year of school ready for their exams or assessments and are prepared for the transition to their next steps towards adulthood. “Approximately 3,000 young people will benefit from this proposal.
“As part of the research for this proposal, we have consulted with secondary schools to ensure the packs include items appropriate for a student’s final year of school, regardless of ability.
“We’re still working through the details with our supplies, but it’s proposed that the generic packs will include revision books and study guides.
“In addition to the generic packs that will be distributed to our mainstream schools, we’ll ensure that an appropriate pack is also available for our SEND students in specialist placements in Barnsley.
“These will be designed in consultation with these settings to ensure that they meet the needs of young people and that useful items are included.
“We’re also working through the details on how Barnsley families whose children attend school outside the borough can access packs.”
