Within this section you will find information about financial supports available for parents and carers, how to log your children’s wider achievements, family learning opportunities as well as how to apply for bus passes and the Education Maintenance Allowance.
A brief guide to extra financial help available for our families & carers
Many families with children in our school are entitled to some extra financial support. If you are struggling on a low income, you may be entitled to this extra help, even if you haven’t claimed anything before.
This guide is designed to give you some information and advice on where you can get this help, who qualifies for it and where / how you can apply.
Free School Meals – Your child can get free meals in school if you get :
- Universal Credit (where your monthly earned income is not more than £796)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobs Seeker’s Allowance
- Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Your child is also entitled to free school meals if you get:
- Child Tax Credit, but not Working Tax Credit, and your income is less than £19,995
- Both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit and have an income of up to £9,552
The meals award provides a pupil with one free school meal each day they attend school. In addition to this, the award can provide a school clothing grant of £157 per secondary pupil paid directly to your registered bank account.
Education Maintenance Allowance
“Pupils over 16 years old can apply for Educational Maintenance Allowance. You could get a weekly allowance of £30 per week if you attend a school in the City of Edinburgh Council area. Apply online or collect an application from the school reception.”
Free Bus Pass
“All young people and children aged 5-21 years can apply for a card to access the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel Scheme. The scheme was introduced in January 2022 with the main objective of making public transport more affordable and accessible to Scotland’s young people.”
Support for Families
Check out the other Support for families webpages for lots of supports and activities provided by different organisations throughout the year.
Being a parent can be stressful at times. With the seasons changing and the lighter nights, it’s a great time to focus on boosting our wellbeing. If you could do with a little help to get that extra ‘Spring’ in your step, visit the Mental health and wellbeing webpages.
For supporting children and young people with Mental Health and wellbeing, visit the Wellbeing webpages.
Please also see the leaflet below for resources to help with low mood & depression:
Resources for Parents/Carers – Low Mood & Depression
Family Learning
The City of Edinburgh provides a range of Family Learning and Parenting programmes. St Thomas also runs some of these courses on an annual basis. Follow the link below for more information on the courses available with dates included.
Recognising Pupil Achievement:
Parents can now support the school in celebrating their children’s achievement (inside and outside of the school) by using this MS Forms link below. We can celebrate these achievements in a number of ways (such as certificates, articles in the Newsletter and Awards Ceremonies).
Supporting your Child’s Sleep (Delivered by CEC Educational Psychology)
Bitesize – Supporting Your Child’s Sleep
