Kinship Care Pupil Premium and School Uniform Grants in England

School uniforms, PE kits, school shoes, book bags — the costs add up quickly when a child arrives in your home. If you are caring for a relative's child in England, two sources of education-related financial support are worth knowing about: Pupil Premium funding and school uniform grants.

Pupil Premium: How It Works

Pupil Premium is additional government funding paid directly to schools, not to parents or carers. Schools receive a set amount per pupil who meets certain criteria, and they use it to provide extra educational support — additional teaching, pastoral care, resources, trips, or interventions.

For the 2026-27 financial year, the annual rates are:

• £1,550 per primary pupil eligible for targeted free school meals (or who has been in the last six years)
• £1,100 per secondary pupil eligible for targeted free school meals (or who has been in the last six years)
• £2,690 per previously looked-after pupil (Pupil Premium Plus)

Where kinship children fit. A child in informal kinship care is not a "looked after child" and does not attract the higher Pupil Premium Plus rate. However, if the child is eligible for free school meals — which depends on the household income of the carer, not the birth parent — the school receives standard Pupil Premium funding for that child.

From the 2026-27 academic year, children in households receiving Universal Credit qualify for a free meal regardless of earnings. Only targeted free school meals trigger Pupil Premium: for Universal Credit households, annual net earned income must be £7,400 or less; other qualifying routes include support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, the guarantee element of Pension Credit, and specified no-recourse-to-public-funds criteria. Expanded free meals above the Universal Credit threshold are meal-only. Children in Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 receive universal infant free school meals regardless of income, but register a child who meets targeted criteria so the school can record Pupil Premium eligibility.

The practical step is to register the child for free school meals through the school or local authority, even if the child is already getting universal infant free school meals. Registration ensures the school claims the Pupil Premium, which funds additional support.

School Uniform Grants

There is no national school uniform grant in England. Whether financial help is available depends entirely on your local authority and, in some cases, the school itself.

Local authority grants. Some councils offer discretionary school uniform grants or clothing allowances, typically between £50 and £150 per child. Eligibility criteria vary — most target families on low incomes or specific benefits. Contact your local authority's education welfare team to ask what is available.

School hardship funds. Many schools maintain their own hardship fund for families who cannot afford uniform costs. The school may offer second-hand uniform, vouchers for approved retailers, or a direct grant. Ask the school office — these are often available but not widely advertised.

Charitable support. The Kinship charity can sometimes direct carers to local grants and emergency funds. School-specific PTAs (parent-teacher associations) occasionally run uniform exchanges that are open to all families.

Virtual School Head Support

Since September 2024, Virtual School Heads have had a non-statutory strategic role in relation to children in kinship care. Section 6 of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 will make an extended statutory duty, but it has not commenced as of October 2026. A VSH can promote awareness and good practice, but is not required to intervene in an individual child's case or act as a statutory escalation route.

Contact your local authority's education department to ask what local strategic support the Virtual School can offer.

Claiming What the Child Is Entitled To

The common pattern is that kinship carers do not know these entitlements exist, or assume they do not qualify because the arrangement is informal. Registering for free school meals, asking about the uniform grant, and contacting the VSH are all steps you can take without a court order or Parental Responsibility — Section 576 of the Education Act 1996 treats anyone with care of a child as a "parent" for education purposes.

The England kinship consent guide covers school admissions, financial entitlements, and the full range of practical steps for informal kinship carers.

See more England guides →