AQW 1936/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 22/06/2022
Answered On Date: 07/07/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education what plans she has to review the Circular 2011/04 - Guidance to schools on school uniform policy, to address the costs of school uniforms for parents.

Answer:

Guidance on school uniforms was updated and issued to schools in 2018:

https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/circular-201104-guidance-schools-school-uniform-policy-revised-5-june-2018

The Department commenced a Review of Free School Meals and Uniform Grant eligibility criteria in November 2021. The purpose of this review is to ensure that FSM and uniform grants are available to support the most vulnerable children in our society and the review will consider the current rates of uniform grant as a contribution to the cost of school uniforms. The review will consider options to extend the FSM and uniform grant criteria and the rate of uniform grant and will consider putting the guidance onto a legislative footing.