PUPILS only went back to school this week and already a row is brewing with a Dunfermline councillor calling for an urgent review over the cost of kitting out kids for the classroom.

James Calder’s demand follows the news that the grant to help low income families buy school uniforms in Fife is up to £55 – less than the Scottish average. 

The Dunfermline South councillor, education spokesperson for Fife’s Liberal Democrats, added: “The Poverty Truth Commission’s report shows that Fife is paying below the Scottish average at only £55 when the reasonable costs would be £129.50. 

“This going to hit hard the finances of parents from the poorest backgrounds.

"School uniforms should not be cripplingly expensive for anyone and Fife Council should urgently look into this to ensure they are affordable for all.

“I call on the SNP/Labour administration to review this as a matter of urgency.”

By law, local authorities must make provision for the clothing of pupils who would otherwise be unable to afford schoolwear. Councils are responsible for setting the eligibility criteria, the grant amount and application process.  

The Poverty Truth Commission believes the amounts should be higher. The Scottish average is now £63.80 for eligible parents and the amount low-income parents can claim in school clothing grants varies.

In West Lothian, it’s up to £110 per child, in North Ayrshire it is a maximum of £40.

Last year, the Scottish Government said they would meet councils to try to set a minimum level but that has not happened. 

Councillor Fay Sinclair, education and children’s services convener, said: “Any parent knows that kitting children out to begin the new school year comes at a cost. For those on lower incomes, it can be a huge strain on the family budget.

“However, our schools continually review their uniform policy with parents  and it is generally accepted that in the long run a school uniform can provide better value for money.

“Many schools already provide uniform banks where good-quality, second-hand uniforms are available and there are lots of low-cost options at supermarkets and elsewhere.

“Council officers are currently preparing a report on the cost of the school day and we are working with schools to make sure that costs ie uniform, equipment, trips etc are affordable for all.

“We have also simplified the grants process, where many who are eligible will now automatically receive it, to make things much easier for families.”

Councillor David Ross, one of the co-leaders of Fife Council said: “If schools require pupils to wear school uniforms then it is only right that there should be some assistance to those families who face financial difficulties in meeting these requirements.

"It has been estimated that the cost of outfitting a child for school is around £129. We don’t want some children to be stigmatised or feel less valued at school, because their families can’t afford to pay for school uniforms.”

He said Fife currently paid a school clothing grant of £55 per child and awarded more than 13,000 grants totalling £721,710 in 2016/17.

Cllr Ross continued: “The Cabinet Secretary for Education, John Swinney, is now suggesting that all councils should pay at least a minimum grant of £70.  

"But our ability to fund education is dependent on our grant from the Scottish Government, so if Mr Swinney wants councils to increase these grants, then it would help if the Scottish Government provided the extra funding needed, to local authorities.

“We estimate that it would cost Fife nearly £200,000 to raise the school clothing grant to £70. If we wanted to go further and match the most generous level of grant paid across Scotland then the cost would be nearly £600,000.

“Tackling poverty and promoting equality is one of Fife’s top priorities, but there are choices to be made here.

"In setting the budget for this year, the previous Labour administration invested £350,000 to support school breakfast clubs and other initiatives to ensure that all children start the day with a decent meal. 

“So if we are able to find extra funding to invest in tackling child poverty, we need to think carefully about how best to use this money and whether increasing school clothing grants will be the most effective way of investing it.

“I will make sure that we look seriously at increasing school clothing grants in the preparation of next year’s Council budget, and in the meantime, I will be writing to Mr Swinney to ask if the Scottish Government intends to fund the increase he thinks is necessary.”

Cllr Ross added: “I would encourage any family in Fife who thinks they might be eligible for a school clothing grant to contact the Council.  Applications can be made on-line at: https://www.fifedirect.org.uk/topics/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.display&p2sid=2B4FC2A2-EEFE-793D-C67878ACFFB0B251